NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts today issued a statement on the league's new media deals with ESPN and Turner, saying the agreements are "good news for all of the stakeholders in the business of the NBA." Roberts: "Although we have seen strong revenue growth and significant increases in franchise values over the past three years, it is clear that the league is now entering a period of unprecedented revenue growth. Our job will be to ensure that the players receive their fair share of the results of their efforts and that we do everything possible to maintain the growth and popularity of the game" (Mult., 10/6).
Reaction to the deals on Twitter included praise of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and thoughts on the value of NBA franchises. Former IMG Senior VP/Consulting David Abrutyn: “Sterling and new TV deal expertly handled by NBA and Adam Silver. Both Preludes to the big one - long term labor peace in new CBA.” SI.com’s Michael McCann: “If Clippers were worth $2B before NBA's TV deal, what are they worth now? Maybe Sterling wasn't crazy when he claimed he could get way more.” The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay: “NBA deal much more about the business of television than the business of basketball.”
CNBC's Julia Boorstin: "Today's high-priced deal comes as sports content, which viewers want to watch live, is more valuable than ever. These agreements show that value starting to be realized in streaming deals as well" ("Squawk Alley," CNBC, 10/6).
