NBA commissioner David Stern, who used superstars such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson to grow the game internationally, and has catapulted the league to unprecedented financial heights, announced on Thursday that he will step down on Feb. 1, 2014, 30 years to the day after taking charge.

Stern, 70, whose first involvement with the league was in 1966 as an outside counsel, said he is not retiring. He plans to work with the league office, mostly on international affairs. Adam Silver, the deputy commissioner since 2006, will become the new commissioner.