NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of former ABA Commissioner and NBA team executive Mike Storen:

“Mike Storen dedicated his life to the growth and success of professional sports, especially the game of basketball. His ingenuity and influence as a leader of the ABA laid the groundwork for its merger with the NBA, which served as a pivotal moment in the history of our league. Mike was a talented and revered executive who took great pride in sharing his passion for basketball with his daughter, Hannah Storm, who has covered the NBA with the same admiration for the sport as her father. We send our deepest condolences to Mike’s family, friends and former colleagues across the sports industry.”