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Brendan Haywood Reveals David Stern’s ‘Mob Boss’ Side With Wild NBA Story
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- Brendan Haywood Reveals David Stern’s ‘Mob Boss’ Side With Wild NBA Story
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Former NBA champion Brendan Haywood has revealed a wild story about the late, great David Stern that shows how the longtime NBA commissioner had such an intimidating and commanding reputation among players.
Speaking on Gils Arena , Haywood compared Stern's leadership style to that of a mob boss as he recalled a story about how Stern handled one of Haywood's former teammates who did not want to be present for the national anthem.
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"I'm just telling you, that's how David Stern moved. David Stern moved like a mob boss. Do you have any teammates ever get in trouble?"
"Dawg, when David Stern called you, it was a different type of energy. And he was letting you know, 'I got all the calls.' Remember when old boy from our team wasn't standing for the National Anthem? So we had a guy that was running to the back during the National Anthem. David Stern found out about it. Hey man, that's how he was moving."
"David Stern—it got—the media was about to drop the story. David Stern called, but he said, 'Hey, listen, I need you out there for the National Anthem.'"
"But he said, 'Listen, we don't—' 'Cause at that time, we didn't have any language in the contract that said you got to be. He said, 'Listen, I'm not sitting down like Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. I'm in the back. I don't got to be out there. There's no language that says whoopty whoopty whoop.'"
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"David Stern said, 'I don't think you're hearing me. I'm going to fine you, and dare—I'm going to fine you. I'm going to suspend you. I'm going to dare the Players Association to come after me. They've got to fight to get all your money back. And then after that, when your contract is up, you'll never work in this league again. And I'll make sure of it.'"
"Buddy was out there like the last boy. I'm just telling you, that's how David Stern moved. David Stern moved like a mob boss."
Haywood is not the only player to remember Stern as such a direct commissioner.
E ven Shaquille O'Neal once recalled going to Stern's office to complain about the physical punishment that he was getting. Shaq threatened to accept a lengthy punishment if the Hack-a-Shaq strategy was employed against him, and Stern's response was pretty straightforward.
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"One thing I love about David Stern is he was real. So we go in his office one day, because I'm at—and I'm letting him know, 'Mr. Stern, next time somebody Hack-a-Shaq me, I don't mind taking 15, 20 games.'"
"And he says, 'Son, if we call every foul that was committed on you, the game will last four hours.' And I thought about it. Like, you're right. And he said, 'Shaq, you're over here complaining about fouling. I got 20, 18 complaining about you.'"
"And I thought about it. I was like, the beating that I took was a sign of respect that you couldn't stop me."
Allen Iverson also experienced Stern's direct approach as well. In 2000, Stern summoned Iverson to league headquarters over offensive lyrics on his planned rap album. Stern publicly condemned the lyrics, and Iverson later committed to removing some of the offensive material.
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Stern served as commissioner from 1984 to 2014 and saw the NBA's transformation into a global sports powerhouse.
Haywood's story, however, offers a fresh glimpse into the intimidating side of the leadership. When David Stern wanted something handled, there was little confusion about who was in charge.
