Silver and Levy first met each other nearly 30 years ago well before they were elevated to their current positionsGETTY IMAGES
When Turner President DAVID LEVY started letting people know about his decision to leave the company after more than 32 years, one of his first phone calls was to NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER. The two are close friends who essentially grew up together in the business. They first got to know each other nearly three decades ago while Levy was working in Turner’s ad sales department and Silver worked in production at NBA Entertainment. “David is a classically trained media executive,” Silver told THE DAILY. “He has showed an appetite for taking risks and being an innovator.” As examples of Levy’s penchant for innovation, Silver pointed to the way “Inside the NBA,” the heralded studio show TNT produces around its NBA games, has bent traditional rules around producing other studio shows. The analysts frequently continue their conversations into commercial breaks, and they are encouraged to poke fun at each other. “David’s given everyone, from the producers to the talent, the freedom to take risks,” Silver said. He also pointed to Levy’s ’08 deal to have Turner manage the NBA Digital assets, which include the league’s website, TV channel and out-of-market package. “He’s got his best years still ahead of him,” Silver said. “This is sometimes what happens to people when a corporate acquisition like this takes place.”
NOT WORRIED ABOUT TURNER RELATIONSHIP: Silver said he has no doubt that the NBA’s relationship with Turner, which started in '84, will continue without a hitch. TNT has the rights to carry NBA games through ’25, thanks to a deal Levy cut in ‘14. Silver’s optimism goes beyond TNT’s media rights deal. The NBA has worked closely with AT&T over the years, and Silver has warm relationships with both AT&T Chair, CEO & President RANDALL STEPHENSON and WarnerMedia CEO JOHN STANKEY. Two weeks ago, for example, Stephenson gave a keynote speech at the NBA All-Star Technology Summit in Charlotte. “We’ve been talking with them throughout this process,” Silver said.
