All season, the NBA has faced criticism regarding its on-court product. While viewership trends remain stable year over year and the league has signed an impressive 11-year media deal, even its most passionate fans acknowledge that the game has evolved—and not always for the better. During a press conference prior to the latest NBA game in Paris, commissioner Adam Silver addressed these criticisms, confirming that while analytics are shaping play styles, the NBA must balance game aesthetics with competitive integrity.
Silver recognized that teams relying heavily on statistics have led to a game increasingly focused on jump shots and less on physicality. “I’m not sure what we need to do as a result,” Silver remarked, “but I would say analytics takes sports in a certain direction because it’s a coach and general manager’s job to win. They’re not necessarily focused on the aesthetic appeal of the game.” He noted that it’s essential for the league to collaborate with the competition committee and address these concerns while maintaining the game’s allure.
Adam Silver’s full answer re: the state of the NBA on-court product and how efficiency/analytics affect it. pic.twitter.com/WerYIiXU7k
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 23, 2025
Regarding the surge in three-point shooting, Silver expressed concern that even top players are being pushed out of their comfort zones by modern coaching methods. He emphasized that the increase in long-range shots isn’t the only shift affecting the game and fan enjoyment. At the Paris Olympics, medal round games showcased an even higher rate of three-pointers than typical NBA games, with superstars like Steph Curry, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic thrilling audiences. These matches were celebrated as some of the best in recent basketball history.
However, not every trend is pointing in the same direction. Silver mentioned, “I want to let it marinate a bit. I want to get direct feedback from our teams on what they’re seeing. Night in, night out, we’re watching the best athletes in the world perform in ways that once seemed unthinkable. While I enjoy the games, is there a tweak needed? I’m not entirely sure it boils down to just three-point shooting.”
While Silver did not specify potential rule changes, he acknowledged that fans often miss the physicality characteristic of earlier eras, which can be diminished when many possessions prioritize generating open three-point shots. He reflected on whether the NBA may have “gone too far” in attempting to enhance game flow in the early 2000s by prohibiting “hand-checking.” Ultimately, he understands that fans seek “competitive tension” and a degree of physicality, which are integral to the sport’s appeal.
Silver articulated the importance of ensuring that athletes face challenges on the court, stating, “I think what fans respond to isn’t just the distance from which the shot is taken, but the perceived level of difficulty. Fans appreciate a certain aspect of the physical grinding inherent to basketball, and we must ensure that doesn’t get lost.” With the NFL season winding down and the NBA gaining attention, criticism of the sport may rise; yet if teams like the New York Knicks reach the NBA Finals, the narrative surrounding basketball fandom will likely shift dramatically.
Moreover, with significant NBA supporters such as Charles Barkley and Bill Simmons expressing concerns about the league’s product, Silver deserves recognition for directly engaging with these issues instead of avoiding them.
