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David Stern supports Adam Silver's stance on betting

Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

David Stern has praised Adam Silver's first year on the job before. Now the former commissioner said he backs the current commissioner's opinion that states should be allowed to legalize and regulate sports betting.

"I agree with Commissioner Silver that it's time, especially in the day and age of fantasy, daily fantasy" Stern said at a Sports Management lecture at New York University, as reported by ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.

"It's still a game of skill and has its own set of issues with algorithms and bet large sums, but it's time," Stern said.

The former commish did add, however, that he's concerned with how betting may change the game. "Because fans don't walk out of the Garden saying, 'Oh my God, it's too bad the Knicks won but they didn't cover,'" he said.

Stern also said he could see the day of legalized betting was coming.

"I think it was clear where we were heading. The course was set. But it was left for Adam to make a direct statement of where it was going, and I think he did the right thing and I am very supportive of that."

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