Borrowing from European football, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday his league should look at replacing the All-Star Game with an in-season knockout-style tournament and a shorter season schedule.
The 57-year-old sports supremo, who has spent more than five years running the $9 billion league, told The Economic Club of Washington the move could create new excitement and solve some headaches.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the state of the NBA and professional sports with Economic Club President David Rubenstein (Zach Gibson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
"In international soccer, they play for different cups throughout the year," Silver said in wide-ranging comments about the NBA. "I've said to our teams, maybe we should shorten the number of games and play a tournament during the season.
"I'm only saying we have to look at other concepts."
The NBA All-Star Game once offered greater national and leaguewide exposure and a rare uniting of greats in an era before US Olympic NBA squads and communications that allow anyone to watch any team from anywhere.
But with teams and players wary of injuries in an exhibition, the game has evolved into a highlight show of dunks and shotmaking.
"If they and their teams don't really want to play an exciting All-Star Game, we've got to come up with a new concept," Silver said.
A knockout tournament could let the NBA sustain record television revenues with a reduced schedule and give teams a new prize to seek, even though stars might not get as much of a break.
The NBA has had an 82-game schedule since the 1967-68 camapign.
"As a league we may need to revisit the number of games we play," Silver said. "Maybe that's too many games."
Silver also looks to Europe for models on US gambling, which is growing after the Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting.
"They have much better controls than we do," Silver said. "I think we're better off with a (national) framework. I think it's better being transparent, regulated and controled."
Silver wants an "integrity fee" from businesses that will profit off NBA betting, considering it adds a new dimension to the challenge the league has of safeguarding the integrity of results.
"They are now imposing a set of requirements on us and expect us to control the product," Silver said. "As a business matter, yes, I think we should share in the profits." (Agence France-Presse)