Adam Silver became NBA commissioner in February 2014, and it didn't take him too long to show he was the right man for the job. Months after Silver took over from David Stern, he displayed great leadership during the Donald Sterling scandal.
Recordings of Sterling, who was the Los Angeles Clippers' owner at the time, making racist remarks were released by TMZ in April 2014, and Silver decided to ban him from the NBA for life. He was widely praised for taking swift action and became a very popular figure in the basketball world.
Silver has also earned praise over the years for not shying away from change, but there is one subject where he has dug his heels in.
Adam Silver speaks to the media before game one between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center.
Adam Silver speaks to the media before game one between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
There have been growing calls for the NBA to shorten the regular season. Teams have played 82 games a season since 1967-68, but that has been deemed too big a number now by some.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told The Athletic that he would like the season reduced to 65 games. Kerr even emailed Silver before the start of this season to plead his case.
Kerr feels that with the pace and space in today's game, it isn't ideal to make players play 82 games. Silver, however, doesn't feel there is a need for change.
"I don’t really see the benefit to reducing the number of games," Silver said, via Mike Vorkunov. "People used to say you should reduce the number of games bc it will lead to a reduction in a number of injuries. We have absolutely no data to suggest that...(I'd rather) start earlier maybe or push a little bit later."
The NBA regular season starts in October, while the playoffs end in June. There is a greater chance that either the start or end date changes than the number of games.