NBA Q&A: Adam Silver

Courtesy of NBA TV

Q. There's been a lot of talk about tanking this year. Can you please define what tanking is in your opinion and whether you think teams are doing it?

A: My understanding of tanking would be losing games on purpose. And there's absolutely no evidence that any team in the NBA has ever lost a single game, or certainly in any time that I've been in the league, on purpose. And, to me, what you're referring to, I think, is rebuilding. And I'm not sure it's just a function of the collective bargaining agreement, I think it's there's a balance with any team of the need to look out to the future and at the same time put a competitive product on the floor.

And I think what we're seeing in the league right now is there's no question that several teams are building towards the future. And I think their fans understand that as well. If there was any indication whatsoever that players or coaches somehow were not doing their absolute most to win a game, we would be all over that. But I don't believe for a second that's what's going on. I think we have the most competitive players in the world, the most competitive coaches, and I think they're doing everything they can to win games.

Q. You've signaled an interest in looking at the lottery system. Does that have anything to do with the appearance of tanking?

A: The very purpose of the lottery is to prevent there from being an incentive to lose games. And so to the extent that incentives aren't entirely aligned, we'll look at the lottery again. We have adjusted it several times over the years, and we'll adjust it again if necessary. But we'll see. We have a competition committee, that's one of their mandates, to continue looking at that. But I'm not overly concerned right now.

Q. You mentioned replay before. Are there specific ways to expand instant replay while either shortening games or keeping them the way the length that they are? What rule changes might those be?

A: It's something that the competition committee will look at. I don't know if there's ways to expand replay and shorten the game at the same time. One of the things we're looking at is a command center similar to what the NHL does right now, where we can centralize the review of replay. In part to ensure a certain consistency, also to save time. Now, as you know, the game stops, the referees walk courtside, turn the monitor around, talk to the truck, order up the replays. And I think that it's our belief if we can get it right, that if have you officials, in essence, located at headquarters, at a central site, that that process can begin immediately, they then can communicate with the officials and that will save time.

Q. In light of what seems like sort of an epidemic of injuries this year, especially to high profile players, is there any consideration being given to lengthening the number of weeks in the season to lessen the grind?

A: We have talked about a mid-season break. That's been reported recently. That's something I've heard directly from the players on. They're saying that if they could get a few more days off around All-Star, especially the All-Stars, I think, who, as we all know, are so busy over the course of these few days, it would be helpful to them to get some additional rest. Of course our season is so concentrated right now, that will require us to push back the season a few days. So we'll continue to look at it. It's an awfully long season right now. So I'm not sure we want to go too much longer. But we'll look at it.

Q. You've spoken about the desire to increase the age requirement for the league. How do you feel like that would improve the game on both the NBA and the college level and do you feel like that you can get the cooperation from the Players Association to make it happen?

A: The 20-year-old minimum age limit was something we had on the table in the last round of collective bargaining. And when we compromised on a deal, well into what should have been our season, we agreed to park certain issues and return to them. And the age limit was one of them.

It is my belief that if players have an opportunity to mature as players and as people, for a longer amount of time, before they come into the league, it will lead to a better league.

And I know from a competitive standpoint that's something as I travel the league I increasingly hear from our coaches, especially, who feel that many of even the top players in the league could use more time to develop even as leaders as part of college programs.

I think it would have the same impact on college as well. I think ultimately this is a team sport; it's not an individual sport. And we have seen it in international competition, for example, too, where teams of players that have played together for a long time have enormous advantage over teams comprised of super stars or players that come together over short periods of time.

So I think from a college standpoint if those teams could have an opportunity to jell, to come together, if those players had the benefit to play for some of these great college coaches for longer periods of time, I think it would lead to stronger college basketball and stronger NBA ball as well.