David Stern said he’ll be retired in five years and he hopes deputy commissioner Adam Silver will replace him, calling Silver a “first-rate, top-of-the-class executive.”

Said Stern: “If I had the decision, if I were doing it myself, he would be the commissioner.”

Stern said he does not plan on being involved in the next round of CBA negotiations, which could be in 2017 if either the players union or owners exercise their right to opt out of the 10-year agreement.

“I’m not going to be here when it either is or isn’t reopened in six years,” Stern said.