An indispensable figure in NBA history and league operations in North America and around the world … (The definitive interview with Terry Lyons)

Witnessing history: David Stern became NBA commissioner in February 1984, and Terry Lyons (second from left) attends an “office humor” ceremony a few days after the real one.

Terry Lyons photo

Terry Lyons was in charge of all NBA communications, public relations and media activities outside the United States from 1992 through 2007. PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBA PHOTOS

By Ed Odeven

TOKYO (Oct. 2, 2014) — Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and David Stern are all names synonymous with the NBA’s rise in popularity during the 1980s. But there were, of course, key personnel in the league office building the foundation for success in the decades to come.

Terry Lyons was one of those individuals. In fact, he filled some of the most important roles behind the scenes.

“Terry Lyons’ enormous contributions to our media relations efforts for almost three decades have been a key driver to…