OT: Stern makes 15 million per year. 500k per team

[J-Roc]

you say 18 per year isnt much but look at how many years he has being doing it. 18 mill X 27 years = 486 mill assuming that he made somewhere near 18 million when he started out.

He made $3M when he started out.

[dacrusha]

Is Stern ready to put the money where his mouth is and accept a hard cap on his salary too?

BTW, Billy Hunter makes about $2 million as the players' advocate.

[Fairview4Life]

you say 18 per year isnt much but look at how many years he has being doing it. 18 mill X 27 years = 486 mill assuming that he made somewhere near 18 million when he started out.

He hasn't been making that much since he started. Read the article.

[from24ft]

(re-posted to this thread by request)

http://www.sbnation.com/hamsandwich/201 ... y-cut-espn

David Stern Takes A Lockout Pay Cut, And The B.S. Express Rolls On

LAS VEGAS - JULY 12: NBA Commissioner David Stern addresses the media during a press conference following the board of governors meetings at NBA Summer League on July 12, 2010 at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

David Stern has been on a public relations blitz during the NBA lockout, and he's doing it all free of charge. But look a little bit closer, and the picture gets a lot more complicated. Plus: Remembering Korey Stringer, early reviews for "Watch the Throne", and more.


Aug 3, 2011 - David Stern has been in the news all week. On Monday we found out that he makes as much as $23 million-a-year as NBA commissioner. On Tuesday, he announced a lawsuit against against the Players Association and appeared on ESPN. And Wednesday's big news tells us that contrary to earlier reports, Stern won't be taking a salary during the NBA Lockout.

All of which clouds the issue. Of course David Stern's not taking a salary during the NBA lockout. The owners won't be generating any money, and the players won't be getting paid, either. How is it news that David Stern would choose not to get paid?

It'd only be relevant if he still tried to collect his eight figures. While we're talking about salary, though... Something Stern said on Tuesday afternoon struck a chord.

During an interview with Jay Harris on ESPN, Stern explained that the economy's changed, and the system needs to change, too. "Since the players get 57 percent of every dollar and we've seen their salaries go from $250,000-a-year to $5.2 million... I actually take some pride in that, because that meant that the revenues were growing, and we could be in a position to see players making that much money. But it's time for a reset, and we don't think the union is ready for that reset."

First off all, the figures he mentions are confusing. The average salary at the start of the last lockout (in '97-98) was $2 million, which is slightly different than salaries ballooning at a 95% rate. More importantly, what Stern forgets to mention is that while players got paid more, so did he.

We have to go back to 1990 to put this in perspective. Back then, players made an average of $860,000, and Stern made $3 million-per-year (more than all three other major sports commissioners combined, according to the New York Times). And now his salary's jumped to somewhere $15 million between $23 million, depending on which reporters you believe.

So while individual players are getting paid $4 million more thanks to inflation over the long term, David Stern's making between $12 to $20 million more than he did in 1990. Not necessarily some grand inequality, but a perfect example of Stern's selective reporting.

If you were to hear that David Stern's annual salary has grown by $20 million over the past 20 years, you might conclude that NBA's been growing steadily, and everyone's getting rich. You might not blame the players when you they're salaries have grown by $4 million. And if everyone's getting rich individually, but teams are losing money, you might think that's a problem that should be solved among the teams.

You won't do any of that, though, because you'll never hear anything like the truth from David Stern and the owners, as they try to take us all for a ride on the "bull Express."

Tuesday was just the latest example of a dichotomy between numbers and truth that hangs over this lockout. No matter how many out-of-context statistics it takes to make his case, David Stern's job is to paint the players as greedy and unreasonable, and make himself and the owners look like innocent victims. He's good at it, too. Did you hear he's working for free?

[Mister Ze]

I doubt he makes 15 million, he probably makes A LOT more He's been commissioner for like 30 years i'm sure he's established himself to make 25+ million per season.

The 2010 all-star game in Dallas generated a ton of revenue for the NBA plus 7 games in the NBA finals against the Lakers and Celtics yet the league recorded a loss. I don't think the league is losing money, like the New York Times said, he's just being cheap and wants to maximize revenue for himself and the owners.

[OAKLEY_2]

I doubt he makes 15 million, he probably makes A LOT more He's been commissioner for like 30 years i'm sure he's established himself to make 25+ million per season.

Whatever. I hope they never come back.

[NashtyNas]

At least he works for his money and earns it by putting a good product on the floor. Wall Street Bankers took home 100 million dollar salaries while **** the world over.

Sorry I do not see the difference. There are 30 independent businesses of which he is the head of an overseeing body that happens to be incorporated. The players are paid by their respective teams not the league. The only time the league is their boss is when a team goes into difficulty. Just because Wall Street has some boiler room scam elements whose corporate behaviour is beyond reckless doesn't take the NBA off the hook for its own gross excess. I cannot believe people can look themselves in the mirror and say "geez I'm surprised Stern doesn't make more". He should be rolled back the same as the players in the new CBA. If he isn't and is left untouched, the league and the owners have zero credibility to restructure player compensation.

Arguing your own points? He's not paid by the owners, therefore roll-backs on League Personnel salaries are not in the interest of the owners, according to you. So, why would his salary even matter?

[m1kenoff]

"You might not blame the players when you they're salaries have grown by $4 million."

This is where I stopped reading.