David Stern, the longtime NBA commissioner who shepherded the NBA from the edges of disaster to unimaginable success, died Wednesday. He was 77.

Stern died as the result of a brain hemorrhage he suffered Dec. 12 in New York, according to a statement released by the league.

For 30 years, Stern oversaw the NBA as it grew into a viable domestic and global product. Under his leadership, the NBA added seven franchises to expand to 30 teams. He negotiated big-money television deals, organized the league offices to include 13 around the world, handled multiple crises and work stoppages, and put a focus on marketing and international exposure.

“He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends,” said Adam Silver, who took over as NBA commissioner for Stern on Feb. 1, 2014, after having worked alongside him for 22 years. “We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.”