David Stern officially stepped down as NBA commissioner after 30 years in office on Friday midnight, and Dallas Mavericks owners Mark Cuban made sure he would give the best parting gift to the long-serving executive.
Hours before Stern left office to lead a normal life as a retiree, he posed with the flamboyant Cuban for a selfie which the Mavs owner posted in his Instagram account. Cuban also wrote in the photo caption: "Celebrating the commissioner's final day in the office. Yes we are....CLOSE friends."
Stern and Cuban has had a troubled relationship ever since the latter came into the NBA as a team owner after purchasing the Mavericks from Ross Perot, Jr. in 2000. The outspoken Cuban was widely critical of various issues in the league most important of which was the officiating. Thus in 14 years, Cuban has paid more than $2 million in fines.
Interestingly however, Cuban and Stern say they've been good friends despite their fierce relationship in the NBA. Stern acknowledged that while they have clashed numerous times in the past, he considers Cuban a good pal. As he told in an interview with Ernie Johnson of Turner Sports and transcribed by Star-Telegram.com, Stern said of Cuban: "I would say to you that Mark is a friend. He has his own way. And in the case of Mark I am a foil and have been a foil, and gladly so, because actually we're friends.
"I have leaned on him for advice. There are lots of things he doesn't agree with what I've done, and I tell him, 'Thank you, have a nice day, we're going to do what we deem to be in the best interest of 30 teams, not any one team.'''
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