Adam Silver seems content with direction of NBA on a number of fronts
Prior to Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, league commissioner Adam Silver delivered a semi-annual State of the Game address, and, man, does it seem strong.
After all, the New York Knicks, playing in the hemisphere's biggest media market, will face the San Antonio Spurs, featuring Victor Wembanyama, the new face of the NBA.
In addition to touting his new "3-2-1" draft lottery reform, Silver touched on the NBA's likely expansion into Seattle and Las Vegas and its expected expansion into Europe.
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Not even a question about the Aspiration scandal could curb Silver's enthusiasm.
Let's run through the highlights.
Lottery reform
Silver called tanking a decades-long problem and "not a new issue for the league." He was surprised by two things: 1) how rampant the issue became, involving a third of the league this season, and 2) how quickly the board of governors responded.
While tanking has existed for practically the entire history of the league, it felt different this season, according to Silver, involving more teams than ever before and occurring earlier in the season than ever before. The commissioner, of course, fined the Utah Jazz $500,00 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for tanking in February.
Team owners, front offices, coaches and players were "largely" on the same page regarding lottery reform, Silver said. (The Memphis Grizzlies were reportedly the lone dissenting vote against reform, because a first-round pick of theirs was impacted.)
"I'm thrilled, frankly, that we got this done this year," said Silver.
As team-building looks different in years to come, as planning for the draft becomes more difficult, and as the league's salary restrictions have complicated free agency and trades, scouting is more important than ever, according to the commissioner.
"There's no incentive to be bad," said Silver, making a declarative statement that may come back to bite him, "and this is something we haven't seen before in this league."
NBA Europe
The NBA is forging ahead with its plan to field a 16-team league in Europe for the 2027-28 season. NBA Europe will reportedly feature 12 permanent teams — including some existing franchises and some new ones — as well as four open slots for clubs across the continent to play their way into the league. Bids for teams are due at the end of this month, and there is reportedly "record interest" in the available franchises.
"We are very much on schedule," said Silver.
The NBA plans to award franchises in the fall, according to the commissioner.
NBA expansion
"Discussions are ongoing" with multiple groups in both cities about the league's expected expansion into Seattle and Las Vegas, Silver said. "It's not a foregone conclusion that we will expand," but the NBA will make its decision by year's end.
65-game rule
As a number of stars across the league fell short of 65 games played this year, thus failing to qualify for postseason awards, there was some question about whether the NBA would make a change, loosening a rule aimed at increasing player participation.
Do not expect one.
"I'm frankly not ready to support a change," said Silver. "I think the rule is working."
Aspiration scandal
Asked about the Aspiration scandal, or alleged salary-cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers, Silver said there is some urgency behind a determination — "it can't take forever" — but "the most important thing is that we have to get it right."
"I wouldn't be doing my job if I made a determination based on perception," he said.
The investigation is being conducted by an independent law firm. Meanwhile, Pablo Torre won a Pulitzer Prize for his investigation into the scandal, and the Aspiration co-founder was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for pleading guilty to wire fraud.
