In the Sports Arena: Adam Silver, ’88, NBA Commissioner
For Adam Silver, ’88, it was far from a slam dunk that he would wind up in basketball. His professional path initially looked much the same as many corporate lawyers, including a clerkship with a federal judge and stint at the blue-chip Cravath law firm in New York City. As Silver began exploring possible next steps, he connected with then–NBA Commissioner David Stern. A lawyer himself, Stern was in the market for a special assistant who could “think like a lawyer,” Silver said.
Silver got the job, and the rest is NBA history. After joining the association in 1992, he held various positions, including chief operating officer and deputy commissioner. When Stern retired in 2014, Silver was named his successor.
Over the last decade, Silver has been instrumental in increasing league revenue, which has benefited both owners and players.
“There is no shortage of opportunities in the sports business for talented legal professionals.”
There have, of course, been challenges along the way, including the COVID pandemic, which forced the NBA to temporarily suspend the season in March 2020. After consultation with players and other stakeholders, Silver and other NBA leaders decided to restart the season in July by creating an isolation zone inside Walt Disney World in Florida. The league brought in their own PCR testing machines and tested everyone each night until the end of the playoff games in mid-October.
Silver recently used his legal and analytical abilities in the complex process of negotiating new media rights deals. In July, the NBA signed agreements with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video that will bring the league $77 billion over eleven years.
“It’s complicated for several reasons,” Silver told the Associated Press in a recent interview. “One is the advent of new platforms, particularly streaming, and the interest of streaming companies and traditional media companies also carrying our games on streaming platforms. It’s complicated because with multiple partners, all seeking similar assets in many cases, you’re just figuring out the right way to balance those games as they go to different partners.”
To legal professionals aspiring to work in the sports industry, Silver has a few simple words of advice. “Be open-minded and unafraid to pursue what some might consider unconventional roles. There is no shortage of opportunities in the sports business for talented legal professionals. Sports are at the intersection of media, technology, health and wellness, and so many other areas, and sound judgment and decision-making from trained lawyers are critically important in navigating these issues.”
When asked what might surprise people about his role as NBA commissioner, Silver shared a revelation that, upon reflection, might not be so surprising to avid basketball fans: “What might surprise some people is how much time I spend dealing with ticket requests,” he said.
Mark A. Cohen is the Assistant Dean for Communications at the Law School.