CLEVELAND — With the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, NBA commissioner Adam Silver took some time to discuss the state of the pleasantly surprising Cavaliers.
Of course, the Cavs even have two All-Stars themselves. Point guard Darius Garland was picked by coaches as a reserve, and center Jarrett Allen was selected by Silver himself as the replacement for injured 76ers guard James Harden.
Silver spoke to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com in an exclusive interview, and praised the Cavs’ season, as well as what appears to be their bright future.
“I definitely think there’s more excitement (surrounding the Cavs),” Silver told Fedor. “… I’ve been doing this a while and we’ve been in markets where the host team didn’t happen to have a good team that year, but when you have a good year and a good team, one with two first-time All-Stars and a really rosy future, I think that creates additional enthusiasm.”
Silver also spoke with Jim Donovan of WKYC-TV, saying he admired the way the Cavs have built their current roster.
“The negative one is where you have players coming together for the sole purpose of winning a championship, particularly later in their career,” he told Donovan. “And I think, on the other hand, you have super teams — and I think Cleveland is becoming one — where they’re constructed in just the right way.
“Where there’s a recognition that this is a team sport, that in order to truly win championships, to compete at the highest level, all those players have to come together and to sort of feed off each other.
“And that’s what makes for great teams and makes for great basketball. I love the trend we’re seeing in the league right now.”
Silver is correct in saying there’s lots of excitement about the Cavs, initially projected by most to finish in the 25-30-win range this season.
Instead, they enter the All-Star break at 35-23 and in the mix for the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Despite losing their last two, Cleveland has won 13 of its previous 18 behind the likes of Garland, Allen, Rookie of the Year frontrunner Evan Mobley and a rejuvenated Kevin Love. Also, J.B. Bickerstaff has firmly placed himself in the NBA Coach of the Year discussion at the beyond-the-midway point.
Silver discussed a number of other topics with Fedor, including the possibilities of an in-season tournament, the selection of Allen to the All-Star Game, and how the league has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. You can check out the full interview right here.
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