‘‘I think probably the most drastic change that I've seen and I've experienced, as a kid growing up overseas, you couldn’t watch the game live. You know what I mean?’’ 15-time All-Star Kobe Bryant said. ‘‘It was on delay, would come on the next day, it wouldn’t be a big publicized thing, you'd have to kind of search it out. Until now, it’s televised live across how many countries? That speaks to his influence, that speaks to his business savvy.’’

Silver will have work to do. The dunk contest has been diminished, names like Jordan and Wilkins replaced by lesser players. The search for host cities with enough hotel and entertainment space for staff, media, sponsors and fans has grown more difficult.

And those are the things that turned a game into an event.

‘‘Event planning, (butt)-kicking parties and fun, good hotels, all those little things that people judge a weekend by, David was on it,’’ Lyons said.

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