Granik to step down as Deputy Commish

Granik has been with the league for the last 30 years, spending the past 22 in his current position as second-in-command.

"Russ discussed with me his desire to step down as Deputy Commissioner once our collective bargaining negotiations were concluded, but I persuaded him to stay on for an additional season," said Stern. "He will be functioning as usual for the next eight months, but we agreed that it was appropriate to let the Board of Governors know his plans as far in advance as possible."

In his new position, Granik will continue to be the league’s principal representative with USA Basketball and Chairman of the Board of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"After we successfully concluded our last collective bargaining agreement in June, and with six years remaining on that agreement and three years left on our television contracts, I felt the time was right for me to get off the treadmill for a while," said Granik, who first started in the NBA in 1976 as a staff attorney.

He became Assistant General Counsel in 1978, General Counsel in 1980 and Executive Vice President in 1984, succeeding Stern when Stern was named commissioner. In 1990, Granik was elected Deputy Commissioner by the NBA Board of Governors.