The Pardon My Take podcast welcomed Adam Silver as a guest on Wednesday, where the conversation took an unexpected yet entertaining turn, revealing a different side of the NBA commissioner. Co-host Dan “Big Cat” Katz expressed his surprise at Silver’s appearance, asking, “What was the sell process for you to come on this show? Did someone have to tell you, ‘Hey, these guys actually aren’t the worst?’” He added, “I can’t believe you’re on. We’re excited to interview you.” In response, Silver praised the hosts, stating, “You guys are fun to watch and listen to. You do an incredible job.
Silver then addressed serious topics, including All-Star Weekend, and discussed hypothetical scenarios, notably his recent proposal for the NBA to adopt 10-minute quarters. “We have to stay on our toes and be open-minded about changes,” Silver emphasized, which led to Big Cat proposing a more unconventional idea.
Katz pitched, “I have to pitch you my one idea that I’ve had for many years. You’ve got to think about it. … there’s obviously been issues at times with fans getting a little unruly, maybe talking too much to the players. My rule is very simple: Every single player, when the season starts, gets one chance to call out any fan they want, and they just get to beat the f*** out of them in the middle of the court. Once they use it, they can’t use it again for the rest of the year. Thoughts on that rule?” Silver immediately disagreed, looking serious.
“Not a good idea,” he said, but Katz was quick to defend, suggesting the excitement it could generate: “When you see Kevin Durant, and you decide to say something really mean to him, it’s like, ‘Wait, does he have his one-fight-a-fan left this year?’” Silver responded, “You lost me on the beat the s*** out of them part,” admitting, “I sort of was with you up to we single out one fan and then we’ll review that fan’s conduct.”
Still, Katz pressed on, pointing out the potential for high ratings: “Oh my god, we’re going to Sacramento and DeMar DeRozan has called someone out from the 10th row and they’re … stopping the game to fight.” In a surprising twist, Silver, typically serious in demeanor, decided to play along, joking, “We’ll bring a cage. Is the fan allowed to fight back?” Katz replied, “Yes,” prompting Silver to chuckle, “Oh, you know, I didn’t fully consider your idea.”
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While it’s unlikely such a proposal will ever see the light of day, Silver’s willingness to step outside traditional media and engage with humor was a commendable move. Big Cat expressed his satisfaction with Silver’s open-mindedness, posting on X: “Feels good to have my idea heard by the NBA Commissioner. He thought about it.”
Feels good to have my idea heard by the NBA Commissioner. He thought about it
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 12, 2025
