San Antonio Spurs Represent David Stern’s NBA

David Stern was hired as NBA commissioner in 1984.  One of his big goals was to globalize the game.  Stern wanted to also make the league more professional, expand it to 30 franchises and have superstars on television more often.  Stern stressed to the NBA higher-ups that if teamwork took place, success would follow.

Isn't it ironic then, that the San Antonio Spurs are back in the NBA Finals for the fifth time in 14 years?  They are the model franchise in Stern's NBA.  They have global superstars in Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands), Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina) who are on television all the time and represent their team the right way, with professionalism and teamwork.  Their head coach Gregg Popovich is the same way.  The Spurs are the ultimate example of teamwork.

This isn't Boston or New York or Los Angeles.  This is San Antonio.  A nice place to visit, but not exactly a big market NBA city on television left and right and in your face all the time.  Stern's NBA was never intended for just "BIG" markets.

The Spurs are what is right with the NBA.  They have the teamwork and professionalism and represent the NBA well through their superstars in a superstar league.  And they are back in the NBA Finals.  And surely David Stern is happy about that.

By:  Mike Lindsley, "Mid-Day with Mike," 1-4, Yankees pre/post game host on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.  Follow him on Twitter @MikeLSports.