Skip to content
Sixers
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers, rest of NBA to recognize and honor David Stern

The 76ers also will celebrate Stern’s life during Monday’s game against Oklahoma City at the Wells Fargo Center.

Members of the Los Angeles Clippers stood during a moment of silence Thursday, before a game against the Detroit Pistons, for former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who had died Wednesday.
Members of the Los Angeles Clippers stood during a moment of silence Thursday, before a game against the Detroit Pistons, for former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who had died Wednesday.Read moreMark J. Terrill / AP

HOUSTON — All NBA players and referees will wear black bands on their uniforms for the remainder of the season in honor of late NBA commissioner emeritus David Stern.

Stern, 77, whose 30 years at the helm made him the league’s longest-serving commissioner, died Wednesday. He had suffered a brain hemorrhage Dec. 12 and underwent emergency surgery.

The 76ers and Houston Rockets first donned the bands when they met Friday.

The Sixers will celebrate Stern’s life during their home game Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Thursday, the Wells Fargo Center’s lights were dimmed for 30 minutes in honor of Stern. The 30 minutes symbolized the number of years he served as NBA commissioner before he retired in 2014.

Simmons collecting stats

Ben Simmons headed into Friday’s game with five double-doubles in six games. On the season, he had 10 or more assists in 12 games. That ranked him third in the league behind the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (24) and Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (13).

Simmons also had a league-best seventh game with four or more steals. He was tied with the Chicago Bulls’ Kris Dunn for first in the league with 20 multi-steal games.

Simmons, a candidate for the all-defensive team, also led the league in steals per game at 2.2. Miami Heat standout Jimmy Butler, a former Sixer, is second at 2.0.