Former NBA commissioner David Stern has been a vocal proponent of esports for quite some time. From his assertions that “of course” esports is a sport to his investment into fantasy esports site AlphaDraft during its $5 million seed funding, Stern has repeatedly shown support for the industry in the past.
Stern knows a thing or two about running a successful sports league, so his very public support galvanized communities of professional gaming fans, rendering them optimistic about esports’ future.
On a recent interview on Forbes Money Podcast, Stern seems to have pivoted, slightly, on the institution as a whole.
“My feeling about esports — how do I say this — I think I might have aged out (of it),” Stern said.
The average age of an esports viewer is 28.
“It doesn’t move me in the same way that Kevin Durant or Steph Curry shooting a three or LeBron (James) throwing one down does,” Stern added. “Maybe if I was somewhat younger and I grew up playing League of Legends on my Xbox or my Sony PlayStation 3 or 4 or 6 or whatever, I’d have a different approach.”
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Stern also seemed to be irritated by declarations that the League of Legends Final last year drew more fans at the Staples Center than the Los Angeles Lakers did during their NBA Finals runs.
“If I have to listen one more time to the fact that the League of Legends Final at Staples Center outdrew the Lakers in the Finals…that’s a little bit misleading,” Stern said.
Still, Stern is bullish on the medium’s future. It’s just not for him anymore. Clearly — and obviously — David Stern’s allegiance lies with basketball and, if his comments are any indication, don’t expect to see him get re-involved with esports any time soon.
“Now the League of Legends are selling franchises,” Stern said. “The NBA has announced that they will be with Take-Two (Interactive) — the video game manufacturer — to make an NBA Take-Two league where NBA franchises will compete against each other. So it’s starting to sort of take on the trappings of a sports league of some kind…It’s not something I’m getting involved with — my loyalty on a league basis is with the NBA. But it’s coming.”