A timeline of key events and achievements for the NBA under David Stern, who retires after 30 years as the league’s commissioner on Saturday.
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1984: Becomes NBA’s fourth commissioner on Feb. 1. Michael Jordan drafted. First salary cap set at $3.6 million for 1984-85 season.
1985: Draft lottery debuts.
1986: Larry Bird wins inaugural 3-point contest.
1988: Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets added as expansion teams.
1989: Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves added as expansion teams.
1990: NBA becomes first U.S. professional sports league to play regular-season games outside North America when Phoenix and Utah open season with two games in Tokyo.
1991: Magic Johnson announces he has the HIV virus and will retire.
1992: The Dream Team wins gold in first Olympics featuring NBA players. Average player salary surpasses $1 million for first time at $1.1 million in 1991-92.
1995: Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies added as expansion teams.
1996: Average player salary reaches $2 million for 1995-96 season.
1997: WNBA debuts.
1998: NBA loses games to a work stoppage for first time, with 50-game schedule that begins in February 1999.
1999: Average player salary reaches $3 million.
2002: Average player salary reaches $4 million for 2001-02 season.
2004: Charlotte Bobcats added as expansion team. Ron Artest suspended 72 games after charging into stands and starting brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
2005: Creates NBA Cares, through which NBA, players and teams has raised more than $225 million for charity.
2007: FBI informs NBA it is investigating former referee Tim Donaghy for betting on games, including ones he officiated. National TV contracts extended for $930 million annually.
2010: NBA All-Star game draws more than 108,000, a record for a basketball game, at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
2011: Second lengthy lockout reduces season to 66 games, shifts about $280 annually in revenues from players to owners.
2013: Sacramento Kings sold for $534 million. Salary cap set at $58.7 million.
2014: Retires on Feb. 1.
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