An Open Letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

Dear Adam Silver:

You recently joined the Old Man and the Three podcast hosted by JJ Reddick and expressed disappointment in the way basketball is being covered, discussed, and analyzed in our current media landscape. You said this as part of a litany of topics that you covered, and I found the interview to be very insightful.  I would recommend that anyone who reads this watch the entire podcast episode on YouTube. 

In your criticism, you didn’t name organizations, but you referenced the media in general, which could include the major media outlets and the increasing number of podcasts that are discussing basketball and have a large following.  In one sense, I agree with you. Basketball is much more than “who wanted it more”, at least not in the way that you probably mean. And an increase in the frequency of the kind of X and O analysis that you recommended may give us a more informed audience. But if your desire is to raise more interest in and passion for the game, this is not the only missing ingredient. In my opinion, what made the golden era what it was are the storylines around players and teams and the overall competitiveness of the league’s best players.

I’ll address the competitiveness issue, since I believe that some of the recent rule changes and new ideas were designed to ramp up the conpetitiveness of the early part of the season.  We are nearing the end of the superteam era (although the Clippers and Suns may be trying to keep it alive).  I’m happy that it’s leaving.  When multiple superstars team up, the notion of "his team" gets lost, and with that, conversations around leadership and team dynamics, which is what captivated us about the sport. Magic. Bird. Nique. Dr. J. Magic. Jordan. Isaiah. Drexler. Stockton & Malone (they just have to be listed together). I don’t think there is anyone who can really imagine Magic and Jordan talking about teaming up during free agency.  Why? Because in their mind, they had their “own” team, and they wanted “their” team to beat “your” team.  When that dynamic is lost, when that competitive story is lost, we are forced to manufacture stories to keep fan interest at a high level, and everyone falls into the temptation to create clickbait in hopes of going viral.  And while technical analysis will be watched by and further entrench the hardcore fan, it won’t bring the casual fan to the sport. Unfortunately, there are only a few players now who can say they have their own team in today’s game.  Giannis. Jokic. Embiid. Steph. Tatum…maybe? I believe that you can add young stars like Fox, Haliburton, and Edwards to the list. At least they are establishing themselves for that title.

In reference to Steph, here is the story that I see about Steph Curry, that’s not being told by the media (even though his documentary does a great job of hinting at it).  His humility, mixed in with his work ethic and undeniable confidence, is what has led to an incredible run at Golden State (and I’m not minimizing the role that his talent plays). I think the team takes on his personality.  Draymond’s forthrightness should never be confused with either indifference or arrogance.  He loves the game, and plays it with an intelligence and a fervor that we want to see more of, not less of.  Yet, he knows what can make a team successful, so he’s not so arrogant as to believe that he is bigger than the team.  It is that quality that Steph embodies that permeates the team.  I’m not saying that other players don’t inherently have that quality.  Klay, the 3rd member of the Golden State championship trinity, also has a quiet, killer confidence, blended with a humble appreciation for the game of basketball.  But when your BEST player has that in him, it is very different.  Every player who is only a fraction of the player that Steph is must carry the same level of accountability toward their effort, commitment, and mental approach to each game.

This kind of analysis of what has made Golden State so durable over the last decade is just as helpful as understanding why the Sixers made the recent trade of James Harden, what they saw in the players they received in terms of how they would strategically use them on the floor, along with their existing personnel, and the kind of offensive and defensive schemes that Nick Nurse is employing that has led them to a 7-1 start and a sense that maybe Embiid’s status as an MVP player is legit, and that Nurse may just unlock it through a brilliant offensive and defensive game plan. I definitely see the benefits of this kind of breakdown and analysis, as it educates the audience, leads to appreciation for what the players and coaches do, and changes the way we see the game as it unfolds before our eyes. (Tim Legler did a phenomenal job last year after games, and Kobe Bryant's Detail was a brilliant idea as well).

In the end, both forms of analysis are valuable.  1) The science behind the technical aspects of the game - the offensive sets, defensive principles, strategic approaches, and analysis of adjustments made, and 2) the art behind the human aspects of the game - the personalities, the psychology, the team dynamics, the challenges, and the hopes and dreams of those involved in the game.  Sports has a unique impact on our society. It uplifts us.  It inspires us.  And it entertains us.  The exhilirating moments that happen, that are so emotionally overwhelming, are more appreciated when someone understands the dedication, commitment, and discipline that was needed to lead up to that moment, as well as the sophistication, knowledge, and creativity that it took bring it to execution.  Excellence is not an accident.  It’s art and science.  Like basketball.  Art and Science. We want both. At least I do.

One thing I appreciate about your leadership was that you didn’t just blame the media.  You took ownership as well, and acknowledged that there are things that you can do better at the league office.  I think a return to the regular All Star Game format was a step in the right direction, and you are obvioulsy trying to increase interest in the sport with the in-season tournament, as well as cracking down on superstar players taking games off for rest. While those measures can help to cure the acute problems that have contributed to the toxic conversations, what will inspire us to better conversations is a return to the spirit of competitive basketball, the documentation of the growth of players and teams, and a celebration of those who embody the fire, desire, and leadership ability that characterize all champions.

Bruce