NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had a good laugh at Shaquille O’Neal‘s recent comments about the quality of play in the league. He playfully zinged the Hall of Famer, saying, “There was so much diversity in Shaqi’s game, I can’t believe he said that.” It was all in good fun during Silver’s appearance at the Paley Center for Media’s International Council Summit.
Shaq had expressed his thoughts on the current state of the NBA on a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, where he mentioned that TV ratings were declining because every team seemed to be running the same plays. He specifically pointed out the prevalence of 3-point shooting, saying, “I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team isn’t a 3-point shooter. So why [does] everybody have the same strategy? I think it makes the game boring.”
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Silver, however, took Shaq’s comments in stride and even showed some respect for his opinion. He acknowledged that there may be some truth to the perception of the game becoming repetitive, but also highlighted the evolving nature of basketball. He said, “Sometimes there’s more appreciation for a 12-foot jumpshot than a 30-foot jumpshot. When Shaq played, it was the exact opposite,” referring to the shift in preference from big men dominating the paint to today’s emphasis on skilled shooters.
Silver weighs in on game adjustments
The Commissioner also hinted at the possibility of making adjustments to address concerns about the game’s current style. He mentioned the potential to move the 3-point line back to make shooting more challenging, although he clarified that it’s not a definite plan at this time.
He emphasized the importance of taking a step back to study the game, especially as the NBA is about to enter into new television deals. Silver expressed, “This is a good opportunity this season as we’re about to enter into three 11-year television deals to step back and study the game a bit.”
It’s interesting to see different perspectives on the state of the NBA, especially coming from someone as iconic as Shaquille O’Neal. His comments spark a conversation about the direction of the game and how it’s being perceived by fans and players alike. Silver’s response shows a willingness to consider potential changes while also recognizing the value of the game’s evolution.
