Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

David Stern will step down as NBA Commissioner on February 1st 2014.

An email was sent from Stern to certain league executives stating his decision to retire. The NBA Board of Governors have chosen deputy commissioner Adam Silver to replace him.

“The Board has selected Adam Silver to succeed me as NBA Commissioner, and I am very pleased with their choice. As you know, Adam is a world-class business executive who has influenced so many areas of our business during his 20-year tenure with the league, from television, to digital, to international, to merchandising, to sponsorships, to team business, to, of course, labor negotiations. I know that the organization will be in very good hands when Adam becomes Commissioner.”

The announcement came at a Board of Governors meeting earlier today.

February 1st will be 30 years to the day that Stern accepted the job as NBA Commissioner. Stern turned 70 years old last month and is the NBA’s longest tenured commissioner ever.

According to David, this decision was six months in the making, beginning after he guided the league through the lockout and labor dispute.

“I don’t know what else to say other than to recite what I told the owners yesterday in executive session. I told them that it’s been a great run, it will continue for another 15 months, that the league is in, I think, terrific condition.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnPbGjLqRHA

Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports