1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone. This is view from the Raptors past. This 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: is good news. I would like to be a part 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: of that. I could make it up and you'd be like, oh, yeah, 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: that sounds right right, just keep going. I believe Green 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: she'd probably have somebody look at that. All right, Welcome 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: to another episode of You from the Raptors. Today is 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: a big day for us, a very big day. We're 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: gonna venture outside of just Celtics history. We're gonna go 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: into NBA history. We're gonna talk to the man who's 10 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: making all of the calls for the league. He's the 11 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: top dog in the NBA. He's the most revered commissioner 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: in all the sports. He is Commissioner Adam Silver. So 13 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: we're gonna get to him in a few minutes. But 14 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: right now we're gonna open up. I've got Sean Grandy 15 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: here with me, and Sean, before we get into this 16 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 1: whole conversation with the commissioner, I just gotta say we're 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: into May now, and I feel like my internal clock 18 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: and calendar are just completely out of whack. I mean, 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: I thought it was when we started the season at Christmas, 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: but now we're when we're at the point where this 21 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: should be halfway through the playoffs. Right now, I feel 22 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: like I'm just completely out of whack. Am I alone 23 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: in that boat? Well? How about the bubble last year 24 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: when we're you know, people were going to work in 25 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 1: shorts and it's it's eighty degrees, it's August, and there's 26 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: NBA going on. This true story. The other day, my 27 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: wife says to me, Hey, did you know somebody in 28 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: our family graduated from college this weekend? And my very 29 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: first thought was, No, that's not did she graduate early? 30 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: It's not that graduations. College graduations are in May, and 31 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: it couldn't possibly be May because we're still in the 32 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: regular season, so everything's backwards. Although I was happy to 33 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: see the Timberwolves tweet out that they had playing their 34 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: first game in May since two thousand four, Like, yes, 35 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: you know, whatever it takes, that's a great call out 36 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: for them, great call out for them. But hey, you 37 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: gotta do what you gotta do when you're in a 38 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: certain situation. But no, we're we're talking about the last 39 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: year plus and we're about fourteen months into this pandemic 40 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: at this point, and that's one of the topics that 41 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: we want to talk about with Commissioners Silver. This has 42 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: just been a crazy run for all of us. I 43 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: mean it feels like I know it feels the same 44 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: way for you. For me, it feels like I've been 45 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: sprinting for fourteen straight months at this point with no break. 46 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: As you just talked about, we were in shorts covering 47 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: basketball last August. Usually that's the downtime that we get, right, 48 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: we haven't had any of that over the last fourteen months. 49 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: Where are you at, Like, is your tank completely empty 50 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: at this point? Well, this is you know, as you 51 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: like to point out, because I've been around so long 52 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: doing this job. This is the third third quote unquote 53 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: lockout season, which is what really has been, which is 54 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: the four games a week. It's been unlike any other 55 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: for all of us because we are supposed to be traveling, 56 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: so that comes with different things. It depends on what 57 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: your home life really is like. For some people, the 58 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: road isn't escape from crazy life at home. For some people, 59 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: the road can wear you down, so in that regard 60 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: is completely different. But talking to Adam, I think we'll 61 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: bring us all back, and I think it's important especially 62 00:02:58,240 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: now once in a while for all of us. Were 63 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: ever we are in our lives to go back to 64 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: March eleven, because you realize not only how far we've 65 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: come as a society, as a country, as a league, 66 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: all the things that we have been through. I think 67 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: those days are important to remember because Adam Silver's decisions 68 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: are concrete now because they're part of history. But I 69 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: always talk about history is being wet cement, and on 70 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: March eleventh of twenty was wet cement. It could have 71 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: dried in any possible way. There were so many decisions 72 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: he could have made. As you and I and the 73 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: rest of the traveling party got in a flight from 74 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: Milwaukee back to Boston and we were flying into an 75 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: unknown world. Those two hours in the air were indelible 76 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: because we were all of a sudden being looked at. 77 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: You remember, Mark, We got off the plane and as 78 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: we don't remember because this is that game coincidentally was 79 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: one of the I get like four game is off 80 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: a year. That was one of the games that I 81 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: had on so I wasn't actually on that trip. So 82 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: as we get off the plane from Milwaukee, it's a 83 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: two hour flight. At that time, everything was very new 84 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: and very scary, and the only thing that people knew 85 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: about COVID at that point was that it had hit 86 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: the NBA, it had hit the Utah Jazz, and the 87 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz had just played the Boston Celtics, so we 88 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: were not necessarily flying back into open arms. I think 89 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: they were happy at the hotel in Milwaukee that we 90 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: were leaving and we flew back. There were news helicopters 91 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: over the plane when we got off, and it was 92 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: feeling very much like we were being quarantined from the world. 93 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: And masks were a new thing. Some of our players 94 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: were already wearing them. Some of us hadn't even contemplated 95 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: the idea of putting them on. These things that are 96 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: now part of our daily lives. So I think once 97 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: in a while, when we think about what might be 98 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: considered difficult now, I think it's important and an important, 99 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: you know, sort of starting point. With Adam, the decisions 100 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: he had to make going into a world now that 101 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: we're intimately familiar with that in March and we knew 102 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: nothing about this has been quite the stretch for him. 103 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: But one thing I definitely want to touch on with 104 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 1: him when we get to talk to him is about 105 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: where the league stands. It's just crazy to me to 106 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: look around the league. You've been around the league for 107 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: a long time. Have you ever been in a viewpoint 108 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: of the league where you can look Almost every single 109 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: night the Celtics play a game, there is a young 110 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 1: star on the other team. It's just wild to me 111 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: that this league is loaded with so much young talent 112 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: right now, including the two guys on the Celtics Janalen 113 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: Brown and Jason Tatum. During the playoffs last year, during 114 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: in the Bubble games, I remember saying tweeting, think about 115 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: the number of players, superstar players that are under twenty 116 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: in this league. And I filled up a tweet used 117 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: of all the characters, and then I went to another 118 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: one to reply. I went to another one and they 119 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: were still people mad at me because you left out R. J. Barrett, 120 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: and you left out this guy, and you left out 121 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: that guy. And it's an indication there's never been there 122 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: have never been more young elite players in the league 123 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: spread around, which is gonna be great for debate. Though 124 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: every era in the league reaches the end of it, 125 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: Larry and Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan's era, and eventually it's 126 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: gonna happen with Lebron's here you go what's gonna happen 127 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: to the league afterwards? And the league always gets better 128 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: and it's never been positioned to get better more than 129 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: it is now with seemingly a twenty three two year 130 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: old superstar un virtually every team. It's crazy. It's crazy 131 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: to see, it's crazy to watch, but it's a lot 132 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: of fun to watch and that's the best part. But 133 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 1: we're gonna get into this conversation. We're gonna talk with 134 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: Adam Silver. Sean, I think you've been having some tech 135 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: issues on your end, so I hope, I hope, I 136 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: hope your your internet hold still and doesn't drop out 137 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: on you before we jump into this interview. But we 138 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: will see. Well, I hope you're the guy with their 139 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: fingers on the button, so I'm always suspicious when my 140 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: fingers are up in the air. Okay, this has nothing 141 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: to do with me, but we'll see if it holds up. 142 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: We're gonna jump into the conversation. Here it is Commissioner 143 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: Adam Silver. Alright, Commissioner Adam Silver, welcome into the podcast. 144 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: The last time we were able to have you on 145 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: one of our shows, it was back I think it 146 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: was four teen season. We had just launched a brand 147 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: new pregame show. It was the first one that any 148 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: team in the league had done, and you were deputy 149 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: commissioner at that time. So now here seven or eight 150 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: years later, we're finally getting you on our podcast. So 151 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: thank you for taking the time to to come onto 152 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: our new endeavors. It's very much appreciated. Absolutely, thanks Mark 153 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: my recollections. We were standing in the short of the 154 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: end zone of the court game that interview. That was 155 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: our location for a good four or five years, and 156 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: now we're moving into the podcast space. So we're always 157 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: trying to do new and exciting things here at the Celtics, 158 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: and this is definitely no exception. I've I've been talking 159 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: recently and we're gonna try to get Shawn any in 160 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: this conversations as we go through this. But we were 161 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: we were talking before you jumped on about just how 162 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: crazy this last fourteen months has been for everyone. It's 163 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: been a WorldWind. It feels like it's been a sprint 164 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: for everyone. But we couldn't wrap our heads around just 165 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: what it has felt like for you, in particular. Every 166 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: decision that you make impacts thousands and thousands of people, 167 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: and that's not easy, and I know it's something that 168 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: you sign up for when you take on a position 169 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: like yours, this commissioner in the NBA, But I'm just 170 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: curious to get your perspective on what this experience has 171 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: been like for you personally, um and maybe who you 172 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: lean on for support when you're trying to make these 173 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: critical decisions. Sure, so, you know, probably as it's been 174 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: for most people. I mean, I begin with sort of 175 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: my family situation. I mean, office, I have young kids, 176 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 1: and I have a young daughter trying to sort through 177 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: what it meant over the course of the past fourteen 178 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: months in terms of school and trying to explain what 179 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: initially a coronavi IRIS was and COVID and you know, 180 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: why she couldn't have grandma and all those issues. So 181 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: I think from that standpoint, I'm probably not that dissimilar 182 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: from many people who have been dealing with family situations. 183 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: And of course then there's the family members or friends 184 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: who have gotten sick, some critically sick, you know, so 185 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: those just putting our league in context, and the same 186 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: discussion I'm often happening having with team people and players 187 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: that we have to recognize that in the scope of things, 188 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: how fortunate we are that we did find a way 189 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: to continue playing through a pandemic and day to day 190 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: in terms of my job, again, I think I've been 191 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: very fortunate that I have a tip terrific group of 192 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: colleagues at the league office that I can lean on. 193 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: As you said, you know when when you first interviewed me, 194 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: I was then the deputy commissioner. I'm a longtime league employee, 195 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: getting close to thirty years, and many of my senior 196 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: colleagues have been with the league for close to the 197 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: same amount of time. So, as they say, we can 198 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 1: finish each other's sentences, and it's nice one, especially when 199 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: you have a crisis, that you can turn to people 200 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: that you have complete trust in. And it's not just trust, 201 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: but also their willingness to feel secure in their positions 202 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: so that they will tell you exactly what they think. 203 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: And even though you may be finishing each other's sentences, 204 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: it also may mean that they're telling you what you 205 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: potentially don't want to hear in certain situations. But also 206 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: then on the team side, I've also been very fortunate 207 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: that there are a group of league owners, team owners 208 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: and team executives, whether it's it's Rich Gotham there in Boston, 209 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: or with Grousbeck, who serves on our Advisory Finance Committee, 210 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: a group of team owners that I've relied heavily on. 211 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: We've had practically a meeting every week by zoom want 212 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: an advantage of using this technology, that I've been able 213 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: to be in regular contact with them, use them as 214 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: a sounding board to discuss issues. Steve Palauka is not 215 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: on that committee, but he's also someone who's become a 216 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 1: close friend over the years, got very involved in Massachusetts 217 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: around COVID issues, and then as a whole host I'd 218 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: save other team executive team owners again that I've been 219 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: in regular contact with, so truly have like a fantastic 220 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: group of you know, some of the most accomplished people, 221 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: frankly in the world. You know, when you look over 222 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: the scope of of who's included in our ownership, who 223 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: are experts and science experts in COVID have been dealing 224 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 1: with these issues in their own businesses, and so it's 225 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: it's truly been a collective effort. I'm glad you started 226 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: out that answer talking about your personal life, because I 227 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: feel like even with the with the players throughout the 228 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: league and with someone like you. Uh. I think fans 229 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: sometimes forget about the personal side and that these these 230 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: people are kind of two dimensional figures to them because 231 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: they don't get to shake their hands and meet them 232 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: in person very often, and they don't think about the 233 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: family side of things. And there were some players who 234 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: had to choose last season to kind of opt out 235 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: of the restart in Orlando. Can you just explain how 236 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: you were able to balance the two, um, and how 237 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: you continue you to balance the two of your personal 238 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 1: life and um this constant sprint that we've had from 239 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: a business perspective, Again, I have no secrets there, and 240 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: I think even though maybe what we're doing and I 241 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: include you at the league is much more high profile 242 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: than what a lot of the listeners may be involved 243 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: in at route, our issues aren't that different. As people 244 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: try to balance what it means to work at home, 245 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: which it's hard to call this working at home when 246 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: it's when you're required to do it in many cases 247 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: during the pandemic, or balancing family issues, kid issues, you know, 248 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: spouse partner issues, all those things go into the mix. 249 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: And again I'd say from that standpoint, I'm not all 250 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 1: that different than a lot of other people, and probably 251 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, we're not even Probably 252 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: I'm much more fortunate a lot of people because I 253 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: have resources that aren't available to a lot of people. 254 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: We have this league. I have a good job, and 255 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: I'm always mindful of that in my conversations with players, coaches, 256 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: others you know, around the league, trying to put what 257 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: we do into a greater context, because on one hand, 258 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: there's been enormous sacrifices, particularly the layers and coaches and 259 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: basketball staff have had to make. I mean, living down 260 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: in Orlando during the pandemic, being isolated from their families, 261 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: given the social justice issues that were happening in the 262 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: country the same time, real conflicts for a lot of 263 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: our players and other basketball staff, and the fact that 264 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: in the middle things they were then leaving home going 265 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: down there. I think particularly again, as as a parent, 266 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: I recognized that as difficult as it may be to 267 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: be away from a spouse, young kids made it that 268 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: much harder because in so many cases, kids couldn't even 269 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: understand why Dad. In some cases, Mom, We're leaving home 270 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: for a lengthy period of time when there was so 271 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: much happening around them and their lives had been so 272 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: you know, disrupted. At the same time, while there's great 273 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: sacrifices that our community in the NBA is making, it's 274 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: also important to look at the broader context now with 275 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: well over half a million people dead from COVID, a 276 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: truly global ass you know, massive unemployment. Of course, things 277 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: are getting better now, but looking back over the last 278 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: four teen months, that was the context in which we 279 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: were finding a way to play through it, and so 280 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: I'm particularly proud again collectively as a league that there 281 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: was a willingness from the players, the Players Association led 282 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: by Michelle Roberts and Chris Paul as the president of 283 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: the Players Association. He was someone also I've talked to 284 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: multiple times a week over the last fourteen months. He's 285 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: done a tremendous job leading the other players, which isn't 286 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: easy because I know how hard it can be with 287 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: thirty teams, multiple team owners, team executives, often with a 288 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: different point of view. I think Chris has an even 289 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: harder job when he is four and fifty players and 290 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: they have all kinds of pressures of their own, depending 291 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: on where that the team happens to stand, you know, 292 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: whether they think competitively what he's doing is makes sense 293 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: their personal issues too, So it's truly been a group effort, 294 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: and I think the collaboration is what's made us successful 295 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, and the collaboration has 296 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: been great to at us to where we are today 297 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: and through last season. It was fantastic, just an unbelievable 298 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: effort that the league put together to get that going 299 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: down at Disney. But I'm curious to ask you were 300 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: there any points where you second guest any decisions that 301 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: you made in kind of balancing the business perspective and 302 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: your conscience of whether you guys are making the right 303 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: decisions because it was uncharted territory that no one had 304 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: ever stepped into before. By nature, I'm a second guesser. 305 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: I'm constantly second guessing decisions that I in the league 306 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: have made. I mean one is, for example, when we 307 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: initially decided to play in Orlando, and we had other options, 308 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: some were written about, you know, we could have potentially 309 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: gone to Las Vegas, for example. There were other markets 310 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: that could have housed us sort of on in a 311 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: campus like bubble environment to finish out the season. At 312 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: the time we chose to go to Orlando. Part of 313 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: the decision was that Disney's our biggest partner, and here 314 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: was this large area available as part of the theme 315 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: part as opposed to being in a city where the 316 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: campus would be essentially high rise hotels and arena people 317 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: could be outside. There were all these advantages to being 318 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: down to Disney, to arenas down there, but one of 319 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: the main advantages to going down in Orlando was at 320 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: the time we were making the decision, you know, so 321 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: this is roughly a year ago or a little or 322 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: maybe you know, April of a year ago, Florida had 323 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: one of the lowest case rates in the country, as 324 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: everyone now knows, by the time we began playing in 325 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: early July, they had one of the highest case rates 326 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: in the country. So there was enormous Yeah, so there 327 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: was enormous second guessing around that had we picked the 328 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: right spot, had we been over where we overly influenced 329 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: by our partnership with Disney and ESPN. I mean, it 330 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: worked out fine, obviously, and we got through it, and 331 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: we had incredibly zero cases among players and coaches, which 332 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: is even better than we predicted the bubble would work. 333 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: But there was also I'd say, so there was the 334 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: physical location and then there, probably that while we thought 335 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: about it, we were most focused on preventing our community 336 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: from getting COVID. Of course, there hadn't been as much 337 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: focused on the psychological impact of being down there away 338 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: from family, the isolation that would come from it. I'm 339 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: not sure how much more we could have done. I mean, 340 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 1: there was you know, there were a lot of counselors 341 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: down there, you know, both provided by the players Association, 342 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: by the league. Individual teams have their own people that 343 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: they work with as well to help our community get 344 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: through those issues. But again that wasn't easy at all either. 345 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: And there there was never a time when I wasn't thinking, 346 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: you know, have we made the right decision. And there 347 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: was also the constant fear that maybe we could see 348 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: spread among the community down there. And one of the 349 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: points I was making to our players in particular when 350 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: we were deciding whether it played down there, because many 351 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: of them were saying, to me, can you assure me 352 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: that I won't get COVID and I'm down there, And 353 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: of course couldn't. What I felt most comfortable telling them 354 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: was that on a relative basis, we felt being in 355 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: that as part of that campus, that bubble in Orlando 356 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 1: it would be safer than what they otherwise would be 357 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 1: exposed to, unless they truly wanted to live their lives 358 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,239 Speaker 1: in a confined way. Meaning I said, you know, if 359 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: you want to live in your home or your apartment 360 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: and have access to no one, that will be safer. 361 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: But if you have family members that you live with 362 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: or that your contact with other people and they are 363 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: out and about, even if you're staying home, you're at risk. 364 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: The benefits of being in this community is everyone is 365 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,640 Speaker 1: going to be tested on a daily basis. No one 366 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: will and everyone quarantines on their way in. So we 367 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: felt pretty comfortable there. And even this season, you know, 368 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: it's it's like, look, I of course here and read 369 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: the criticism. You know, should we have started the Christmas week? 370 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 1: Should we have played an All Star game, should we 371 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: have a play in tournament, et cetera. And so if 372 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: any of these decisions were so obvious, we would have 373 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: made them years ago. I mean, there are two sides, 374 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: multiple sides to all of these issues. When I hear 375 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: and read the criticism or a told directly from players 376 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: or team personnel, how they feel that packs me and 377 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: including changing our mind occasionally on certain decisions so I'm 378 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: just one of these people I think of anything what 379 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm what we're seeing in society right now. And this 380 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: is a broader comment beyond sports, is that people tend 381 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: to sort of assign you know, sort of heroes and 382 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: villains very quickly and view issues in true polarizing binary 383 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: ways when there's a lot of ambiguity around virtually everything 384 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 1: we do and lots of shades of gray, and and 385 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: it's generally how I look at things, and if and 386 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: if you look at things that way, it's hard to 387 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 1: have complete confidence in anything you do because you're always 388 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: recognizing that there's another side of every issue. There may 389 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: be many shades of gray. But I think you have 390 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 1: made right decision and correct decision at their correct decisions 391 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 1: since you took over as commissioners. So kudos to you 392 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 1: to being able to maneuver through um not only this 393 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 1: scenario but many other scenarios that have presented themselves since 394 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: you took over. But you did mention something earlier when 395 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: you were talking about Chris Paul and the Players Association 396 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: and Michelle Roberts Um. One thing that a stood out 397 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: to me since you did take over as commissioner is 398 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: just the level of respect and the level of trust 399 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 1: that the players have in you, and the relationship that 400 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: you guys have developed um in both in negotiations on 401 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 1: all of the things that we've talked about and then 402 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: many other things that we haven't talked about. How did 403 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 1: you begin to build that trust? And I'm sure that 404 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: didn't happen overnight, and that started probably about thirty years 405 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: ago when you when you became a member of this league. 406 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: I think it's just that Mark. I think there are 407 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: no shortcuts in terms of building trust. It comes from 408 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: being involved with this league for several decades now. I 409 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: started in Many of the senior players in the Players 410 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 1: Association weren't in the league at that time, but players 411 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: like Chris and you know, other executive committee members of 412 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: the union are now in their mid thirties, you know, 413 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: so fifteen years plus having worked with them. I came 414 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: from the business side of the organization in which some 415 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: people might not be aware of. Before I was deputy commissioner, 416 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: I ran NBA Entertainment, which was a non adversarial way 417 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: of dealing with players as opposed to being on the 418 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: negotiating side or being a league lawyer. I was someone 419 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: working with them from on marketing, on broadcasting, early days 420 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: of the internet around the league, and I think that 421 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: that was very helpful to me and building relationships with 422 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: players from that standpoint. But it's also I think as 423 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: deputy commissioner now as commissioner, it's a function of putting 424 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: in the time. I think that while there's certainly we've 425 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: heard from many well known players recently who have been 426 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,199 Speaker 1: very public about disagreeing with certain decisions, the league has 427 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: made that at the end of the day, I've been 428 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: tried to be very transparent about how we make decisions. 429 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: It be very inclusive with the players Association. In certain cases, 430 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 1: obviously things have to be bargained, so you have no 431 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 1: choice but to be inclusive, but you can go above 432 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: and beyond that and acknowledge when there are differences and 433 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: make sure you're taking in other points of view at 434 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: all time. I don't think there's any magic to it, 435 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: but it's very labor intense it, especially during a pandemic. 436 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: I mean, you talked about the last fourteen months and 437 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: trying to balance all the factors in my life. There 438 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: are a lot of people who want to be heard 439 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: from and needed to be heard from. Over the past year, 440 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: and part of it is just taking the time to 441 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: do that and making sure that you're available to them 442 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: when they have a point of view, and genuine willingness 443 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: to listen to their point of view as well. Well. 444 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: It is certainly worked to this point. I'm I'm sure 445 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: it's gonna work moving forward. But before we let you 446 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: go it just one last topic that I want to 447 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: talk to you about is um. You know, we look 448 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: at this league in the state of the league, and 449 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: I don't want to necessarily ask you about the state 450 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 1: of the business in the league, but more so of 451 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: where we are with players in this league. You you 452 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: go back to the last forty years, the majority of 453 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: the league has been pushed through specific rivalries. Back in 454 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: the eighties it was the Celtics and the Lakers, and 455 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: then after that it was by players with Michael Jordan 456 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: and then Kobe and then mj But it seems to 457 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 1: me like we're now beginning to enter this golden age 458 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: of young stars throughout the league. If you look across 459 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: the teams in the league, you've got about half of 460 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: them that have star players who are twenty five years 461 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: and under. Um where do you see this this group 462 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: of of young star players taken the league in the 463 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: next generation. And we're talking about players like Jayson Tatum 464 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: and Jylen Brown as Sean Grandy is finally able to 465 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: join us here. But where do you see this group 466 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: of young stars around the league taking taking the league 467 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: over the into the next generation. Where I see these 468 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: stars taking us is while we are a global league now. 469 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: I think what one of the main differences from the 470 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: so called old days now have of our league was 471 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: born outside of the United States, The NBA is well 472 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: known and popular virtually every spot on this planet, and 473 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: that given the advent of technology that now allows us 474 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: directly to directly connect with people everywhere in really simplified ways, 475 00:23:56,119 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: largely through phones smartphones, where anyone wherever are located without 476 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: a hardline connection can now be watching you know, high 477 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 1: quality NBA video, which is relatively recent change in sort 478 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: of how technology works on a global basis. I think 479 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: with this abundance of young stars in the league is 480 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: going to allow this league now to really move to 481 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: another level. And to your point about the competition, interesting 482 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 1: statistic that over the first sixty five years of the league, 483 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: so are now going into seventy anniversary. So over the 484 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: first sixty five years, three teams, yours was one of them, 485 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: one of the championship, and over the last ten years 486 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,199 Speaker 1: we've had seven different teams. So while we don't, you know, 487 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: have NFL style any given Sunday competition yet, and I've 488 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 1: always been jealous of that, and it may just be 489 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 1: the nature of the sport it maybe there's things that 490 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,159 Speaker 1: we can do to create better competition, something we're always 491 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: thinking about that. I think what we're seeing now is 492 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: a better distribution of talent that because of technology, players 493 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: are realizing. And I think Janic's extending in Milwaukee is 494 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: a good example of that. You didn't you know whether 495 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: he had stayed or not. I mean, that's a personal 496 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: decision he makes, and it's a function of how our 497 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: collective bargaining agreement works. But I think it would have 498 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: been hard to make the argument to him that you 499 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 1: will be a bigger star just by virtue of going 500 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: to a market that has more people that if he 501 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,199 Speaker 1: had moved down the road to Chicago, because it's a 502 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: much larger city, that that in itself would have enabled 503 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 1: him to become better known or create better economic opportunity. 504 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: We have a cap system, you know, we have an 505 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: individual player cap for for max players. And what I 506 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: pleased to see happening in the league, the players are 507 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: recognizing that the additional notoriety or economic success through endorsement 508 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: deals or whatever else comes from winning. And that's what 509 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: it should be about, the greatest incentive. And so whether 510 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: you're in look at look at the success in Utah 511 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: right now with those players. Obviously in Milwaukee, of course 512 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: you want to see Boston successful to New York is 513 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: having success now as well. But I think even as 514 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 1: I live here in New York looking at success of 515 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: the Knicks right now, people are talking to you know, 516 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: changes that have been made in the leadership of the team, 517 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: not just with Tom coming in his coach and a 518 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,640 Speaker 1: great job he's doing, but you know, with with new 519 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: general manager and new administration there as well. That's what 520 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: you want to see. It's try to have more of 521 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: a level playing field in the league. So I'm hugely encouraged, 522 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 1: you know, Jalen Jason, you know Marcus, you know, you 523 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: have this great core as well in Boston. It's great 524 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: to see them and and the things they're doing. Frankly, 525 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: off the court as well, whether it's in social justice, 526 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: whether it's through creating larger personas for themselves through social media. 527 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 1: One of the real changes we're seeing too through these 528 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,199 Speaker 1: platforms is that people can really see who these players are. It. 529 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 1: Maybe they choose to talk more about social justice, it 530 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 1: maybe they want to just talk more about what they 531 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: value in life, or what their lifestyle is, or what 532 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: their music is they're interested in. But I think for fans, 533 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: it's just so many more multifacet ways to connect with 534 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: these players, and I think that's what draws fans to 535 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,679 Speaker 1: the game. Sean. I know you just joined and I 536 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: were running out of time, but I'm not gonna leave 537 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: with that at least answering at least one of your 538 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: pin And I'm trying to choose right on a fly, 539 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: like do I pick up what you were just saying, 540 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 1: or do I go with the one I really wanted 541 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 1: to ask, which is this? And that's the beauty of this. Right, 542 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 1: We'll just mash it all together the way we wanted. 543 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: You know how we are in the media, right, we 544 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: just put together the pieces that we want. Three years ago, 545 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: I think it was three years ago you spoke to 546 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: us at the broadcast meetings, and our good friend Mike 547 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 1: Brain was doing a little Q and A with you, 548 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 1: and he texted me the night before he said, I 549 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: don't I don't have anything for Adam. I need What 550 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 1: would you ask Adam? And I texted him the following question, 551 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 1: which was, what is it that keeps you up at night? 552 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: And this is a year and a half before the pandemic, 553 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: of course, and you gave an answer to us that 554 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: was sort of off the record that day, and I'm 555 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: not asking you to answer it now, but I thought 556 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: of that moment in preparing to talk to you today 557 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: after the pandemic, and the question is this because you 558 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: gave a great answer that day, but a year later, 559 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 1: seeing how you responded, how the league responded, how the 560 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: players responded, how all of us who have whatever our 561 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: small little role is in this league have responded. Do 562 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 1: you sleep a little better now? No, one, We're prepared 563 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: for whatever might come next. It's such an interesting question, 564 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,439 Speaker 1: just in case your listeners are wondering. I certainly did 565 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: not predict a pandemic with it was an off the record, 566 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: but I didn't. There's this virus that I'm worried about. 567 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,199 Speaker 1: Um you know, i'd say showing the answer is I 568 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 1: do sleep better knowing what an incredible community we have 569 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: in the NBA. That as a combination of the leadership 570 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 1: from a fantastic group of team owners, and again Wick 571 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 1: and Steve are great members of that group, but expertise 572 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: across the board, high level executives both on the basketball 573 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: and the business side, and really players led by their 574 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: players Association and players individually who are incredibly thoughtful, who 575 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: care about broader society around them. We're willing to make sacrifices. Incidentally, 576 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if this has been reported, but we're 577 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 1: now around our players have gotten vaccinated. You guys, remember 578 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: it wasn't that many months ago when this community in 579 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: particular was of the greatest concern in terms of hesitancy. 580 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: I think they've shown incredible responsibility. I respect people's individual decisions, 581 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: and there's no mandate to get vaccinated in the league, 582 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: but I certainly personally think it's the right thing to do, 583 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: whether you're in the league or not. And so I've 584 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: been pleasantly surprised from where we were a few months 585 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: ago that that such high percentage of players have gotten vaccinated. 586 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: I do feel comforted that we have such strong support 587 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: around this league and ability to face difficult issues in 588 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: the in the way we have. And and as you're 589 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,239 Speaker 1: pointing out, it's it hasn't just been the pandemic. In 590 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: some ways, there's been multiple pandemics. Social justice has been 591 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,959 Speaker 1: a pandemic, and economic crisis in this country has been 592 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: a pandemic. And I'm also apple that part of my 593 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: answer to Mark a minute ago that when you see 594 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: people more polarized, that sports can return to being that platform, 595 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: that community that can frankly help bring people together, especially 596 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: when people start to come back into our arenas. I 597 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: think that physical proximity is something we all really miss. 598 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 1: And you may have a disagreement politically with someone, but 599 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 1: when you're sitting right next to them and you have 600 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: that commonality of cheering for your team, you find a 601 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 1: way through some of those differences. You say, all right, 602 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: well we we we have a different view on this issue, 603 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: but look at what we also have in common. And 604 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: that's really important. One more ten second one before we 605 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: let you go, which is the one thing is this 606 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: really hit me the other day how much of your 607 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: job is what's happening right now today? What happened last 608 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: night versus what the NBA and the game has to 609 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: be needs to be five years from now, ten years 610 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 1: from now, twenty years from now, because that is what 611 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 1: always struck me is the extraordinary thing about your job 612 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: is that you're they have to deal with what's happening today, 613 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: but also a caretaker when it comes to TV deals, 614 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: right steals the seeing how the future is going to 615 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 1: be for the league. The honest answer, I think if 616 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: a management consultant was looking at how I spend my days, 617 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 1: they would say, you're spending too much time in the 618 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: here and now and probably not enough time looking out 619 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: to the future. And I think I'm still in many 620 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,719 Speaker 1: ways getting my sea legs as a CEO. I mean, 621 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: I'm now almost seven or seven years into the job, 622 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: but the last year plus has been in a pandemic, 623 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: and probably over time I should be delegating more in 624 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: terms of day to day and spending more of my 625 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,239 Speaker 1: time and spending more of time with team owners who 626 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: are in particular committees whose responsibility is looking out to 627 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: the future, thinking about five years from now and ten 628 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: years from now, both from look at the trends that 629 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: are happening in media you know, enormous changes around us 630 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: and the when the distribution through cable and satellite and 631 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: what that means changes in the game that are probably 632 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 1: necessary given the people of shorter attention spans, young fans 633 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: who were feasting on highlights instead of live games. In 634 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: many cases they describe themselves as being passionate fans. You 635 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: asked them one to ten, These are a lot of nine, 636 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,719 Speaker 1: but they're not accustomed to sitting down and watching two 637 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 1: and a a half hour games, and so we have to 638 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: think about how to change our business to actually bring 639 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: them back to the live game. I mean, the commercial 640 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: format changes may mean there's different types of interactivity and 641 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 1: balancing that against the tradition of the game and not 642 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: doing things that seem too radical. And the playoff playing 643 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: tournament is a good example. I mean, we were talking 644 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: a little bit about that before you got on that. 645 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: I understand that there's many sides to this, and there's 646 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: the traditionalists. You say, oh, you play a wrong long 647 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: regular season. Why in the world should you know a 648 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 1: seven or eight seed in a in a two game 649 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: tournament lose their place? And I understand that part of it. 650 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 1: On the other hand, listen to what some of the 651 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 1: critics are saying, wait, we would have coasted a little 652 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: bit the last month if you didn't have this play 653 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: in tournament. But the responses that we have to pay 654 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 1: a lot of attention to every minute of every game 655 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: now in terms of continuing to cold fan interest because 656 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: there's so many other options now for people to be 657 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 1: entertained that you go on line there is unlimited and 658 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:56,560 Speaker 1: those are the kinds of things we have to balance 659 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: going forward. Commissioner you you mentioned that you're caught up 660 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: in the day to day. We've all been caught up 661 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:03,920 Speaker 1: in the day to day for the last fourteen months. 662 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:07,000 Speaker 1: So um, thank you very much for for for making 663 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 1: the decisions that have led us to where we are 664 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: today within the NBA, and thank you for being such 665 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: a great leader and for taking some time out to 666 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: join us. Absolutely. Thanks Mark and Shawn. Good to see 667 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: you too. Well. Sean, I'm happy you were able to 668 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: join us. For the end of that conversation, I'm glad 669 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 1: you finally let me in. You probably have like all 670 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: the master control buttons. He made sure to say, We're 671 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: not getting out of here without me answering one of 672 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 1: Sean Grandy's questions. It was that important to him. I 673 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: told him the Boston Celtics lead the world and you know, 674 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: all the all the championships and the most historic franchise. 675 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: Whatever we gotta, we'll catch up on the on the technology. 676 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 1: Isn't it interesting when you talk to someone who is 677 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 1: smarter than you that you feel like you are smarter 678 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: when it's over. And I don't know about you. Here's 679 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 1: what here's what hit me. When he went right away 680 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 1: to individual reaction and you picked up on this, I 681 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,480 Speaker 1: thought it was great, which is the no of all 682 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 1: of us. And I'm obviously talking about the players, but 683 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,280 Speaker 1: any of us who have a quote unquote public role. 684 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: You are on people screens, you're on their laptops, you're 685 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:14,800 Speaker 1: on their devices. But we have never been in people's faces, 686 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,480 Speaker 1: in their homes, in the palm of their hand more. 687 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 1: There's never been more exposure. And yet there's never been 688 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 1: a greater disconnect than my view, between the fans and 689 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: the human beings who are playing the game, or who 690 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,279 Speaker 1: are running the game, or who are broadcasting the game, 691 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: or who are covered who whatever it is. And that's 692 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:41,760 Speaker 1: an interesting dilemma I think going forward. When a player 693 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 1: sits out a game, because he's having depression issues or 694 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 1: he's having personal issues, and I think there's a there's 695 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:52,880 Speaker 1: that natural reaction. It's almost like the fantasy basketball, fantasy 696 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:55,759 Speaker 1: sports element of just pushing a button and making a 697 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 1: trade for this guy and he's in my lineup, and 698 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,879 Speaker 1: he should be producing twenty points and ten repounds a game, 699 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 1: and you forget that this is a guy that may 700 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,839 Speaker 1: have had an issue with his wife, maybe his kid 701 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: is sick, maybe his parents are sick. You don't know. 702 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: And there's no better example. The time I do that 703 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:17,760 Speaker 1: this year is whenever we talk about Karl Anthony Towns. Alright, 704 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 1: this is one of the elite players in the league, 705 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 1: and there's a natural tendency to say, well, he should 706 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:23,719 Speaker 1: be doing more at this age, he should be producing more. 707 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 1: There's never been a year market which we have to 708 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 1: step back more and realize we have all done an 709 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: amazing job of creating what I call almost the illusion 710 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 1: of this being a regular NBA season. It's not, it 711 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,439 Speaker 1: is not. I think the more times we can peek 712 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: behind that curtain, and I mean that's the first thing 713 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 1: that Adam got into was personal life, and you had 714 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: to latch onto that because this This isn't just the 715 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: commissioner of the n b A. This is a human being. 716 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 1: This is a father who has a lot of things 717 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:58,680 Speaker 1: going on off the court, as as we like to 718 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 1: call it, um. But there's so many people around the 719 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: league who have been affected by this throughout the pandemic, 720 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 1: people who have have lost family members and friends. UM. 721 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 1: Commissioner Silver talked about some people that were close to 722 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: him that that fell ill um with the with this 723 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: virus throughout the last fourteen months. So everyone's affected. And 724 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:20,239 Speaker 1: I hope that listening to that gives a little bit 725 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: of UM, you know, just a different perspective to some 726 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: of our fans that that it's not just the players 727 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:29,760 Speaker 1: who who are you know, who you have to consider 728 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: as people off the court as well, but it's also 729 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:35,320 Speaker 1: the executives and people who are making these these gigantic 730 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: decisions that impact so many people on the back end, 731 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:41,280 Speaker 1: like Adam Silver. I mean, there's they're across the league, 732 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: in every organization. In Boston, it's Rich Gotham, it's with 733 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,440 Speaker 1: GROSSPEC and at the league level it's Adam Silver just 734 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: having to carry this heavy load on their shoulders every 735 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,279 Speaker 1: single day. And it's why I wanted to ask the 736 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: question that is so fascinating to me because the job 737 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,919 Speaker 1: of all the people you mentioned in their specific roles, 738 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 1: and Adam at the at the tip top, at the 739 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 1: head of the snake, so to speak, is that it 740 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: is not just managing through a pandemic. It is at 741 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,920 Speaker 1: the same time. And I think the smartest people you're 742 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:16,719 Speaker 1: ever around. I don't know if you've you've found this 743 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:18,320 Speaker 1: to be the case, as you know, the older you 744 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:20,399 Speaker 1: get and I'm so much older than you. As as 745 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: as we like to point out, we don't we don't 746 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: have to talk about that is trying to manage these 747 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:28,560 Speaker 1: two different things at the same time of what is 748 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 1: happening right now versus is the NBA gonna be on 749 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:36,720 Speaker 1: Amazon Prime in ten years. You have to think about 750 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 1: this stuff now, we don't. A fan doesn't have to 751 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:42,319 Speaker 1: think about that. The fans just show where's the game 752 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:44,840 Speaker 1: so I can watch it. But there's a million things happening. 753 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:47,960 Speaker 1: They all seem to be happening simultaneously. And one of 754 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: those things, I mean, that's a perfect example of rewinding 755 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:54,560 Speaker 1: to last year when they're planning the bubble. I guarantee 756 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 1: you Adam Silver was also trying to plan this season 757 00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:59,000 Speaker 1: that we're in the middle of right now. UM, that 758 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,120 Speaker 1: just having to think big picture like that. But one 759 00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:03,239 Speaker 1: thing that stood out to me during that conversation is 760 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:06,600 Speaker 1: that he actually mentioned Las Vegas as one of the 761 00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: other options. And I know we've heard it reported. It 762 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 1: was reported UM last summer that that that was in 763 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:14,520 Speaker 1: spring that that was a potential location for the bubble. 764 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,799 Speaker 1: But it was really interesting to hear him kind of 765 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:20,600 Speaker 1: outline the reasons why it wounded up being Disney in 766 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:24,120 Speaker 1: Orlando as opposed to Las Vegas. And to me, it 767 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 1: was a lot of obvious things that he that he outlined. 768 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:29,000 Speaker 1: Disney in in ABC and ESPN are one of the 769 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,879 Speaker 1: biggest partners of the league. Um, you've got a place 770 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 1: where you can create a literal bubble where you can 771 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 1: not let the public in, not let any of the 772 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 1: players out, or the staff. Whereas if you go to 773 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,560 Speaker 1: a place like Las Vegas, you're staying in a hotel 774 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:46,520 Speaker 1: where you might be able to block off some area, 775 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 1: but you walk out of that little tiny area and 776 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:51,520 Speaker 1: you are out into the city of Las Vegas, and 777 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: it's just so hard to create an actual bubble. I 778 00:38:55,719 --> 00:38:58,920 Speaker 1: will say this, UM, and he kind of alluded to this. 779 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: If a bubble happened in Las Vegas, I don't think 780 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:06,080 Speaker 1: we come out of it with zero positive COVID tests, 781 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:07,960 Speaker 1: And who knows what would have happened, because if you 782 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,399 Speaker 1: get one at that time, it could turn into ten, 783 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:12,799 Speaker 1: turn into fifty, turn into a hundred. You just never know. 784 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: But I think it was the right decision to go 785 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 1: down to Disney um And in hindsight, I think we 786 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:20,200 Speaker 1: know that knowing that they came out with zero positive 787 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:23,480 Speaker 1: tests and there haven't been zero positive tests during this 788 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:27,959 Speaker 1: season in which traveling parties have gone back to City point, 789 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:31,680 Speaker 1: and that's even being you know, being careful. I think 790 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:33,920 Speaker 1: this as people know the Celtics have gotten it worse 791 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:36,719 Speaker 1: than everybody else. They're following the same protocols. There's an 792 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:40,359 Speaker 1: element of luck involved with this too, And you have to, uh, 793 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:43,719 Speaker 1: the irony is where do we learn the lesson of 794 00:39:43,719 --> 00:39:46,000 Speaker 1: trying to improve your odds and play the math as 795 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,280 Speaker 1: well as possible? Las Vegas, right, but in this case, 796 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:50,600 Speaker 1: the math and the odds to give yourself the best 797 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 1: chance for to stay the heck away from there. Uh, 798 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:55,160 Speaker 1: you talk about luck sewn. We were lucky to have 799 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:58,759 Speaker 1: the Commissioner, Adam Silver come onto this podcast today. I mean, 800 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,440 Speaker 1: we've had some great guests so far. This is certainly 801 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:03,279 Speaker 1: someone who who's right up there at the top of 802 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:04,840 Speaker 1: someone that we didn't know if we were gonna be 803 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:06,840 Speaker 1: able to get. We were able to get him. So 804 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:08,719 Speaker 1: thank you to all the people on the back end 805 00:40:08,719 --> 00:40:11,160 Speaker 1: who helped make that happen. Christian Megliola, that's a call 806 00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:13,560 Speaker 1: out for you and Mike Bass over at the NBA, 807 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 1: thanks for your help. And um, it was a great conversation. 808 00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:19,080 Speaker 1: Hopefully our fans learned a little bit of something about 809 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:22,960 Speaker 1: Adam Silver, the person. Uh not only Adam Silver, the commissioner. 810 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:26,000 Speaker 1: So Grandy, thanks for stopping by and I'm glad your 811 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,400 Speaker 1: internet wind up working for God. Thanks for letting me 812 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 1: back in. I could have blocked you out, but I 813 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 1: let you back in. I thought the conversation would be 814 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:35,680 Speaker 1: better with Sean Grandy. So that's it. That's a wrap 815 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:37,399 Speaker 1: on episode five. We'll see you guys next week.