His first job was working at his father's New York deli
Began his association with the NBA as outside counsel in 1966, working as an associate in the firm that represented them from 1966 to '74, and as a partner in that firm from 1974 to '78
From 1978 to '80 he worked for the NBA as General Counsel, and from 1980 to '84 he was NBA Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs
On February 1, 1984 he was unamimously elected the NBA's fourth Commissioner
Since then, he has added teams, increased revenue and launched the WNBA (Womens's National Basketball Association) and NBDL (National Basketball Development League)
Was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1998
Has served on the Boards of Directors of the NAACP, Beth Israel Medical Center, the Martin Luther King Jr
Federal Holiday Commission, the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Museum of Television and Radio