NBA commissioner Adam Silver talks about league’s return to NBC
NEW YORK (NBC, KYMA) - NBA commissioner Adam Silver appeared on The TODAY Show Tuesday morning to celebrate the return of basketball on NBC for the first time in 23 years.
Silver talked about the current state of dynasties in the league.
"We'll see if [the 2025-26 season is] the end of the dynasty. What we set out to do was create a level playing field in terms of competition, but not necessarily to have a different champion every year. So I think that'll be determined on the floor. I don't think OKC, I'm going out there tonight. I don't think they think it's the end of the dynasty. I think they may even be a preseason favorite. So I what we wanted to happen. I mean, in the NFL, they have a similar system. You still have dynasties. So it's not the goal is to have fair competition every night."
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner
He also talked about he breakout stars to watch.
"Cooper Flagg. We're just talking about, you know, the Duke guy. So I can't wait to see him as a Dallas Maverick. You know, Victor Wembanyama is healthy again. I mean, you know, the opening segment was talking about, you got sort of the old guys. I mean, I don't know if LeBron [James] wants to think of himself as an old guy, but he's got a little small injury at the moment, but he'll be back in a few weeks. Steph [Curry] seems to still, you know, be playing as if he were 10 years younger. It feels like he's still in his prime. You know, Kevin Durant's with a new team. The rockets are playing OKC tonight. I'll be out there. [The] Knicks...new coach. But you know, I mean, they got one game away from the finals. I think they're, they're highly motivated. Jalen Brunson is ready, I think, to have an MVP level season. So I'm just really excited for all that's going on around the league."
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner
Silver also talked about how the game has evolved since it was last broadcast on NBC in 2002.
"Just think about from the game last time we were on NBC, big men could never shoot the way they can. Now, playerS like Victor Wembanyama, like any big man league has to be able to shoot. So we'll see. Interestingly enough, John Tesh, [and] his wife Connie, are here...[we're] thrilled to have them back...You know, Michael Jordan's back on NBC too as well. Mike Tirico Is doing an interview with him tonight, and I know that's one of the things that Mike is going to be talking to him about. So I'll rely on MJ on that, but we look at it, you know, the fact is, earlier in the season last year, there was a lot of chat around it, but as I said, then, when we got into playoffs, people are hardly talking about it. So I think people love the modern NBA."
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner
In addition, he revealed how the revamped All-Star game will take a page out of golf's Ryder Cup format.
"First of all, we're going to see the All-Star game back on NBC. So we're thrilled with that. And I think, yes, we're going to look at a Ryder Cup type format, and we're going to be right in the middle of the Winter Olympics, which, of course, will also be on NBC. So we thought this was the season it made sense to have the U.S.' first international competition. So we're playing around a little bit with the precise format. You know, we roughly a third of our league is international, so we have to figure out a way to make it fair to the All-Stars that if 1/3 of the team is international, I want to make sure that the U.S. All-Stars get a fair shot, but essentially the competition will be U.S. versus International. I think the guys will get up for that."
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner
The NBA returns to NBC Tuesday night at 4:30 p.m. Pacific as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets followed by the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
