Commissioner Adam Silver spoke to the media on Wednesday following a two-day meeting of the NBA’s Board of Governors, and he said one of his primary concerns at the moment is “a trend of star players not participating in a full complement of games,” according ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
“I’m not standing here saying I have a great solution,” Silver said. “Part of the issue is injuries. One of the things we have focused on at the league office and we’re spending — we had begun to spend a lot of time on pre-pandemic — are there things we can do in terms of sharing information, resources around the league to improve best practices, rehabilitation?
“The other way we can get at it, in terms of player participation, is creating other incentives. The play-in tournament, I thought, was a beginning of creating renewed incentives for teams to remain competitive and be fighting for playoff position. It may be through in-season tournaments and changes in format where we can get at it.”
Silver also said the league could look at shortening the 82-game regular season, if necessary.
“I also have said in the past, if we have too many games, that’s something we should look at as well,” Silver said. “It’s something, as we sit down and we’re looking at new media deals and looking at a new collective bargaining agreement, we will be studying. There wasn’t any banging of the table or anything like that.
“From my discussions with players, they recognize it’s an issue, too. The style of the game has changed in terms of the impact on their bodies. I think we’ve got to constantly assess and look at a marketplace going forward and say, what’s the best way to present our product and over how long a season?”
Here are some more highlights of Silver’s press conference, courtesy of Bontemps:
- Silver said there was no concrete conversation regarding Ben Simmons‘ pending arbitration to recoup lost salary from the Sixers, and the league would not be involved in the litigation process.
- The league has not discussed moving the All-Star game from Utah next season despite an anti-LGBTQ law recently passing. When asked the difference between this situation and Charlotte in 2017, Silver said, in part, “Every situation is unique…I would just say I have tremendous respect for (Jazz owner) Ryan Smith. I think he stood up against this bill. We’ve joined him in opposing this bill. But we also want to be realistic, too, in terms of the impact we can have. In the case of HB2 in North Carolina, I think it was our collective view, we working with the Hornets, that we could have an impact on that legislation. I think in the case of what’s happening in Utah right now, that bill is established.”
- Silver said there was no update on the investigation into Suns owner Robert Sarver‘s alleged misconduct, other than to say it’s still ongoing and “closer to the end than the beginning, but it’s hard to put a precise timeline on it right now.” He also said the league was monitoring Donnie Nelson‘s lawsuit against the Mavericks.
- The commissioner reiterated that he’s pleased with the play-in tournament and expects it to stay, but it could see a few tweaks moving forward.
- The league is focused on trying to eliminate “take fouls” to prevent fast breaks, and changes could come as soon as next season, but there are obstacles to that happening. “That is something, as you know, we’re very focused on and considering making a change for next season,” Silver said. “We still have some work to do with our competition committee. We’ll be meeting with the board again in July, which would be a possible time to change that rule. But as we’re seeing sort of a pretty dramatic increase in take fouls, we don’t think it’s a great part of our game. International basketball has another way of getting at it, but that is something that potentially we’d like to tweak.”
So the owner of the Jazz was more willing than the owner of the Hornets to bend over…
It’s kind of shameful how many games the better/best players sit out. It’s literally their job but they need regular rest days despite being in great shape and in their 20’s or early 30’s. You never saw guys taking rest days in the 80’s and 90’s. In Michael Jordan’s 12 full seasons he played all 82 games in 9 0f those, 81 in another, 80 in another and 78 in the last one. That includes playing all 82 games and averaging 37 minutes per game in his last season at 40 years old.
Not sure it’s fair to use Michael Jordan as the standard bearer lol.
Are you suggesting he got kicked out the League for gambling excessively and causing his dad’s retaliatory murder?
If you are I agree.
Ah yes that typical rumor mongering with little evidence behind it. It’s been 30 years yet there’s been no confirmation whatsoever.
MC Tim C.
Stop.
Stop literally saying stop.
Tim is correct.
These load management divas can eat a bag.
Shameful? These guys are putting their bodies on the line so you can sit and watch. They are compensated well sure, but as soon as you get injured and can’t play how you used to, you’re done. All that life changing money? Stops coming in. You need to readjust your attitude towards other human beings who risk injury just so you can talk nonsense on here
You ever known a 55 year old street baller who hoops constantly despite the wear and tear it puts on his body? Who does it for the love of the game and doesn’t get paid? Not only that, but what you might call west and tear … someone else might call staying in shape and being active and healthy. Meanwhile these players act like it’s not a complete blessing and honor to suit up for a franchise 82 games a year.
These dudes sitting out as healthy scratches undermines the regular season. It’s an embarrassment to the NBA. The only solution would be lessening the amount of games played. Which now totally impacts the historical stats and record books.
As far as Utah banning transgender from playing sports in school … that’s just weird. For whatever common sense I have, it tells me that anyone should be able to play sports. But you have to play in the league based on your biological sex, not your gender identity. It’s not a political point of view, it’s just what I think makes sense. For the record, I don’t vote. I’m part of no party. I believe in everything George Carlin said. That’s my political view.
But yeah …You’re not telling anyone how to perceive themselves, but you’re also setting a boundary that you aren’t ignoring the raw science that biological men have a natural advantage athletically. But it sounds like Utah is just not letting any LBGTQ play at all, from the article I just googled and read. That’s just wrong.
I’m on board with most of this. Make me look stupid, Adam, I welcome it.
spineless as always
Silver is SOFT…he will talk and with no action
He took action was to sabotage Hinkie’s career, but the media outside of Philadelphia will never acknowledge that.
How about no back to back road games? Only back to back when its home games. Seriously how hard is it to make a schedule. SMH A computer can do it easily.
You’d think since these guys make a ton more money than players from earlier generations that they’d play up to it, but then again society doesn’t believe in working hard for their money
They make a “ton more money” because they have a specialized skillset. I don’t think they’re under any obligation to play hurt, or grind themselves into the ground because they’re paid well.
Yeah those owners are working their tails off!
If you want teams to remain competitive, you don’t need a play-in tournament. Just reverse the lottery odds. Worst team in the league has the worst lottery odds among non-playoff teams and the best team to miss the playoffs has the best odds.
Make the games between non-playoff teams down the stretch mean something. Imagine bad teams actually playing to win instead of tanking because winning would improve their lottery odds.
None of this solves his concern about stars missing games, but it does solve the concern over non-competitive games.
@rct
The players aren’t tanking. Not too many ways for bad teams to bring in talent user than the draft.
Easy solution, to be eligible for any awards, like MVP, DPOY, All-NBA teams, scoring title any of that, players must play a minimum of 70 games… then you will see the players playing a lot more games than now!
Easy does it!
I like this!
So make players destroy their body in the regular season so they can’t play in the playoffs? Genius
Nobody’s forcing GPs to win a statistic or award, and they are bonuses.
Anyway there are already minimum requirements for some things… for instance Lebron may not win the scoring title bc of GP qualification. I am not saying this is good or bad, just what bonercat calls out sarcastically is already in use.
I think we can go to 70 games with some kinda big tourney in the middle
World v Pros etc ect
No b2b games ever
I hate these grandstanding statements. Stern said that same old crap. If the NBA didn’t expand the playoffs and made division titles meaningless, it wouldn’t have this problem.
“Take fouls” can be easily called by enforcing existing rules.
Intentional fouls are signaled by crossing forearms acrooss the chest. 2 FTs, then ball out. Then the refs probably have to ignore the cursing coaches bc their strategy was ruined.
Making coaches wail should be a league goal. Pricks.
It’s true. Players sit out more then ever. I’m tired of hearing players missing games because of a sore muscle or an upset tummy. Babies! They don’t deserve the money. I’m glad I don’t have season tickets. Too many games watching the bench. So much money and comfort and they work part-time. I’m not talking about EVERY player but anyone who watches a lot of NBA knows this.
Too many evenings anticipating a good matchup ruined by GTDs to OUT! For all the hate on Westbrook this year, he’s been available every game; a rare feat in today’s game. That’s commitment and preparation. In comparison, Butler perennially plays 2/3 of the season. Part of salaries should be incentives for perfomance and participation. It worked for Embiid. Look how hard Dinwiddie rehabbed to get his guarantee. It’s necessary. You can’t guarantee players millions and comfort with no consequence. The revenue in the agreement is largely based on broadcast deals and the big name players get most of it. No excuse other than an actual injury to miss games.
If you’re not going to guarantee money, every player should then have the option to opt out of any contract by a certain point in the season. Either a contract is binding, or it isn’t, but it has to be a two way street.
Also, sore muscles can be the first warning sign something is wrong. Guys could play one game and get seriously injured, then they’re out 20. It’s a high strain occupation.
Where’ve you been Silver? Always concerned or worried about something. But never around to make an actual tough decision. The players walk all over over him. Stern got things wrong but at least he was decisive
Players are so damn lazy. stats will be altered if they decrease the 82 game season too. Players get paid more now and are lazy. soon they will demand 400 million contracts for 40 games a season
What’s funny, you’re upset your star players are taking breaks.
Yet, if a team loses because they play Toronto and have unvaccinated players, you’re ok with that..
You’re just being a hypocrite!
These comments are so sad. Bunch of entitled babies who think because Lebron makes millions of dollars the NBA owes him star studded games and players should just stop crying about injuries. The grasp that most of you have on the logistic side of the NBA paired with the utter lack of empathy or common decency towards players because they make more money than you is disgusting. Even worse, I’m telling this to a group of guys I guarantee are on average 15 years older than me. Wasn’t your generation supposed to be built on respect? Maybe if Giddy, Caruso, and Austin Reeves were at the top the league…. Lol
I don’t know how old you are, or how old you think your fellow posters are, but I’m gonna guess that this older generation that you’re talking about was built more on hardwork than respect. Respect was earned.
“old man yells at cloud”
That post started ageist then got irrationally racist.
It is older guys who remember when playing through pain was expected, and the top players were on the court when one made the effort to attend or watch. Younger fans know this era only, when players are saved for the playoffs, and many fans seem to want it like that for their favorites.
But very few remember an all-white NBA and I suspect even fewer want that.
How are you going to force teams to play their stats if the games are meaningless?
That makes no sense. If you know you’re going to make the playoffs and your star player is nicked up or tired, of course, you should rest him.
Figure out how to make the games more meaningful. Or change the standard contract to pay per game.
Anything else is a band aid.