NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Talks Rise In 3-Pointers, New Labor Rules, TV Ratings

December 17, 2024

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has a lot on his plate these days, and he made it clear on Tuesday that the league is deeply invested in the direction the game is heading.

With teams like the Boston Celtics pushing the boundaries of 3-point shooting, Silver said the league is taking a close look at the evolving style of play.

“We’re having many discussions about the style of basketball being played,” Silver told reporters before the NBA Cup championship game, via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “It’s not just a 3-point shooting issue. It’s about the overall skill level, diversity of offense, and how fans are receiving the game.”

The Celtics are on pace to smash the record for 3-point attempts, averaging an eye-popping 51.1 per game. They are just the brightest example of the league’s obsession with the long ball.

But Silver isn’t jumping at the chance to make drastic changes.

“Historically, we’ve moved the 3-point line, but I don’t think that’s the solution here,” Silver explained. “That could just lead to more congestion under the basket, and that’s not what people want either.”

Silver’s biggest concern? The game’s offense is starting to look a little too similar across the board.

“Some of the offenses are starting to look cookie-cutter, and teams are just copying each other,” he said. “That’s something we need to take seriously.”

With so many teams leaning heavily on 3-pointers, the NBA is weighing whether the league’s offensive diversity is taking a hit.

As for the NBA Cup, Silver confirmed there are talks about potentially moving the tournament out of Las Vegas in the future.

“There’s been some interest in teams playing in home markets, but it’s tricky with scheduling conflicts,” Silver said. “It’s something we’re looking at, but we don’t want to mess up the tradition we’ve started.”

On the collective bargaining front, Silver made it clear that the new rules around the “second apron” are working as intended — even if some teams didn’t quite understand the consequences of the new system.

“Some teams might have underestimated how inflexible the system becomes once you hit the second apron,” Silver said, smiling. “But over time, this is going to create a more competitive environment.”

Silver also touched on the issue of TV ratings being down early this season, attributing the dip to a broader trend of declining cable viewership.

“Ratings are down a bit, but cable TV is down across the board,” Silver said. “The future is in streaming, and we’re adapting. Every game will be available through streaming services in our new TV deals.”