For all of the "warranted celebration of Adam Silver's deft handling of the Donald Sterling scandal," the NBA's new media-rights deal announced yesterday is "the true defining moment of his young tenure" as commissioner, according to Ben Golliver of SI.com. Silver has "greatly increased his league's revenue base without the potential ugliness of a public bidding war, without the need for a change of television partners, which would inevitably lead to grumbling from viewers during the adjustment period, and without any procrastination in the negotiations" (SI.com, 10/6). In N.Y., Frank Isola writes, "Everything Adam Silver touches really does turn to gold." NBA team owners can "sell now and make a bundle or sell later and make even more." But what they cannot do is "cry poverty" when they start negotiating the next CBA (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/7). Celtics Managing Partner & CEO Wyc Grousbeck said, "It’s a great time to be in the NBA, however you’re in the NBA. It’s a vote of confidence in the league, the players, ownership and the commissioner -- all of those. It’s a vote of confidence. When I came in 12 years ago, it was nothing like this. So over this last 12 years we’ve come to be really a major global sport, and this secures our future for years to come" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/7). T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations & coach Flip Saunders said of the new TV deal, "What it is is a game-changer for the league" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/7).
UP & ADAM: SI.com's Michael McCann wrote, "What a first year for the NBA’s new commissioner." First he "outmaneuvers the notoriously litigious Donald Sterling," and now he "negotiates a record-breaking" TV deal. The NBA has "never been healthier, both domestically and internationally." With the league’s TV deal complete, it "will now turn its attention to new sources of revenue." Along those lines, "expect the NBA to seriously entertain the idea of expanding to new markets as means of driving revenue." If the NBA pursues expansion, "expect Seattle, Louisville and Las Vegas to emerge as the most serious contenders in the United States." Meanwhile, in a world where NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell earns at least $44M in total compensation, Silver is "likely a bargain" and "should probably demand a raise." Not only did Silver "negotiate a TV deal with a value that dramatically eclipses all projections, he has adroitly managed controversies." Compare Silver’s handling of the Sterling scandal to Goodell’s "much-maligned handling of the Ray Rice scandal" and it is "not even close" (
SI.com, 10/6).
