The idea is to give the production the uptempo feel of a basketball game while covering plenty of material from the pair's first meeting in the 1979 NCAA championship game, to their decade-long rivalry, to Johnson's announcement that he was HIV positive, to Bird's struggles with late-career injuries.

WSJ: A Basketball Rivalry Fit for the Stage

As Stern moves on to other pursuits, basketball fans should feel fortunate that the game they cherish will be left in the hands of an experienced, knowledgeable man.

FORBES: David Stern Retiring After 30 Successful Years As NBA Commissioner

He's got a great feel for the game of basketball.

WSJ: Michael Carter-Williams does it all for Syracuse

"I feel like overall our team played passionate basketball tonight and that's a plus, because it was ugly in that Game 1, " Noah said.

WSJ: Williams struggles, Nets fall 90-82 in Game 2

In the States -- I feel like it's funneled into football, baseball, and basketball.

CNN: Where are America's future tennis champions?

The enforcement agency considers the Games an amateur enterprise, even though Olympic basketball players can come from the NBA. "We feel it would open a big can of worms to determine who's professional and who isn't professional, " said Jerry Markling, the NGCB's chief of enforcement.

WSJ: Menu