My opinions:
First, I'm really enjoying this thread.
Secondly, I think David Stern is probably the worst commissioner. I don't want to say Bettman because everyone else has.
I used to follow the NBA a lot more closely but after ref betting scandal was exposed to public, it made me really mad. I still wonder if there is any other officials who are betting on the games. This was quietly swept under the rug. Also, Seattle moving upset me. The Supersonics were in Seattle for 40 years, I believe and then they just left.
The NBA has had 3 franchise move in recent history and it seems like at least a couple more may move soon(Sacramento, Indiana). The loan that NBA got for all their franchises is a bit disturbing.
Bettman to a certain extent is evil but the people at hfboards actually got a few things right. He wasn't responsible for the Ducks, Sharks, and Panthers. According to Wikipedia, he started in 1993 and those franchises were already approved by the league. Yes, I know people are upset about Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg moving but since 1996 no other teams have moved. He kept Buffalo in Buffalo. Columbus and Minnesota are thriving.
Yes, the lockout sucked.
Selig is bad too because of steroid era. Also, the All Star game fiasco in Milwaukee. I liked his logic of fixing the ties in the All Star game. Just give home field advantage to the winning league. Make sense to me.