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Adam Silver faces first major challenges since taking office

By Tamberlyn Richardson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media to discuss the Board of Governors meetings on July 12, 2017 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media to discuss the Board of Governors meetings on July 12, 2017 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Adam Silver
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 26: NBA player Dirk Nowitzki (L) greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (R). During the 2017 NBA Awards Live on TNT (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TNT) /

Adam Silver faces a triad of major challenges as he addresses teams resting healthy players, lottery reform, and revenue sharing resolutions.

Within months of replacing Donald Stern as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was thrust into addressing the debacle existing down in Clipperland. Silver acted swiftly and concisely issuing Donald Sterling a lifetime ban, a maximum $2.5 million fine, and forced the sale of the Clippers.

By the time February 2015 arrived Adam Silver’s first year was deemed a resounding success. To wit, from the get, Silver promised improvements with transparency, more revenue generation, openness in dealing with the Players Association, and greater accountability.

Silver has shined:

Over the past three and half years Adam Silver has delivered on his mandate. The Collective Bargaining Agreement was negotiated at breakneck speed. Lucrative new Television contracts fostered in the arrival of the most expensive team rosters in NBA history (by a wide margin). Promotion of the NBA worldwide has the league positioned arguably as it’s healthiest and most popular of the major league sports.

The apparent open door policy of Silver’s group to owners and the League’s top talents has reaped further benefits. The resulting effect was the lengthened All-Star break and new this season a shorter preseason and earlier regular-season start to allow for fewer back-to-back and four games in five nights situations.

Furthermore, Silver has continued the NBA’s policy of taking tough stances where necessary or championing change on society and cultural issues. And, Silver isn’t afraid to march to his own drum.  For example, he’s been vocal in his support of legalized sports betting.

Recognition has been plentiful:

His list of accomplishments and recognized honors is lengthy. Included among them, topping the  50 Most Influential People list in Sports Business 2016 by the Sports Business Journal. The year prior he was named Executive of the Year by the same group, one of Fortune’s 50 Greatest Leaders and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.  Sports Illustrated honored him as their 2014 Executive of the Year.

Aside from the Sterling situation, it would be fair to say Adam Silver benefited from taking office with the league at an all-time high in popularity and prosperity.

Accountability Time:

This brings me to my point…..  After reading the sage (Adrian Wojnarowski) ESPN article re: addressing the issues of resting healthy players, it got me thinking.

Is Adam Silver facing the most difficult time in his tenure?  Three key issues face Silver and based on his original commitment to accountability it’s imperative he delivers on that promise.

Specifically, the three issues are:

  • Reduction of teams resting healthy players (particularly during nationally televised games)
  • Lottery reform – tanking
  • Revenue Sharing
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