1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: I think a lot of times with the old heads 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: are not on point. It's because in this thing of ours, 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: we have more great stories than we don't than we 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: have bad stories. What I mean by that, when you 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: think about this game, you can go back to the 6 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: sixties and seventies. You can go Russell, you can go 7 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: Magic and go Larry Mike Kobe. Myself and I was 8 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: taught as a youngster that if people are going to 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: pay to watch you perform, you put on a show. 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: So I think a lot of times when we as 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: old school players and old heads don't see these guys 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: put on the show and they're making a lot of 13 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: money and they're going to make it harder for you. 14 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: I think if they're not putting on the show and 15 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: we have to pay these prices and these streamer services, 16 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: so I think we get on them so they know 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: and understand. It's not that we're hating. It's like we 18 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: want them to know and understand, like, Bro, you're making 19 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: fifty million, you deserve it. But that little kid that 20 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: you don't want to see you play, don't be saying 21 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: you're taking the night off when you're not really hurt 22 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: that little kid that wants to see you play. I 23 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: know the three is open, but if don't you think 24 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: if you can just go baseline and dunk and just 25 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: throw it down, it would just protect this thing of ours. So, 26 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of people may think it's coming 27 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: from hate, but for me, it's coming for love. I 28 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: want you to put on a good show to protect 29 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: this thing of ours. Guys like Charleston only made two 30 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,639 Speaker 1: or three million. I was lucky. I came into ninety 31 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: two and, like always tell people commissioning my dream. My 32 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: dream was to make eight million for ten years. That 33 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: was my whole dream. And then I got lucky, and 34 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: I don't know what you and missus Stearn did, but 35 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: it went boom and went crazy and I got another 36 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: hit at one hundred, and I was like, but my 37 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: whole process was, Okay, you're paying me all this money. 38 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: I got to put on a show. So I just 39 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: want people to, you know, know and understand that it's 40 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: not us us just hating. It's like, hey, we don't 41 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: think you put on a show tonight. We think you 42 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: need to put on a show to protect this thing 43 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: of ours. Now when I say this thing of ours, 44 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: you know exactly what I'm talking about commission because you've 45 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: done a great job of getting these kids alloted a 46 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: lot of money, and I com mand you for that. 47 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: Well, thank you for saying that. Maybe I'm saying some 48 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: of those things privately and not publicly, but I think, 49 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: you know, I've heard someone say before that the greatest 50 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: form of caring is honesty, and I think there is 51 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: that sense from you know, you and your crew you know, 52 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: on inside the NBA that it's you're in the family, 53 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,119 Speaker 2: it's and that the things you're saying are coming from 54 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: the heart. And so I love the show and I 55 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 2: appreciate the fact that you guys are willing to be directed. 56 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: It doesn't necessarily mean that everybody has to agree all 57 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: the time either, you know, but it's it's not honest 58 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: point of view. And to your point about are this 59 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: generation of players, I think it is important that they 60 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 2: hear from those who came before them, the greats of 61 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 2: the game, and not just sacrifices they made, but how 62 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: they approach the game. That there is an entertainmentertainment side 63 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: to this that ultimately all of us, you know, are 64 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 2: here because of the fans. You know, I'm fortunate to 65 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: be in this position because of the fans, all the 66 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: current NBA players, and this whole huge ecosystem built around 67 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 2: the NBA that, believe it or not, accounts for something 68 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: like fifty thousand jobs when you start, including the people 69 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: who work day of game and the arena and everything 70 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: else are all It all comes down to those four 71 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: and fifty players, but them understanding that this is about 72 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: something bigger than themselves and that yes, at the end 73 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 2: of the day, it's about the competition and it's about 74 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: doing all they can to win. But there is an 75 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 2: entertainment side to this and then and part is the 76 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 2: realization that and it goes to television ratings. One thing 77 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: that's different from the old days. There's unlimited options right now. 78 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: If you want to sit down and look at a screen, 79 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: you could be playing a video game, you could be 80 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: looking at YouTube. You can be looking at unlimited numbers 81 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: of videos on social media. And you know what if 82 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: I think my cable system has two thousand channels, and 83 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: then you go to streaming and multiple streaming services, so 84 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: the competition is fierce and I think outam that goes 85 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: back to your question about other leagues you know, or 86 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: the NFL on other on holidays that we're on. It's like, 87 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: welcome the competition. I mean, we have to get better 88 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: as well. I mean, and it's one thing that's what 89 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: I lose sleepover. You know that it's every day people 90 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: are making an election to pay their money to go 91 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: to an NBA game or you know, every literally every 92 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: moment you're watching an NBA game, you're sitting there with 93 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: the clicker deciding is there something better else that's more 94 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: engaging to watch it? And part of the issue sometimes 95 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: doesn't get enough focus. It's not just the number of 96 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 2: people who watch the game, but how long they watch it. 97 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: A rating is the average minute. So when people who 98 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 2: used to watch a two and a half hour game 99 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: for on average an hour watch for fifteen minutes instead 100 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 2: of an hour, that's a significant decline in your rating, 101 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: even though it's the same number of people who are 102 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: engaged in your game. 103 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: You know, back in our day, Commissioner, there was only 104 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: traditional media. Now there's traditional media versus social media. Now 105 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: the game has always been global. You've helped make that 106 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: a staple of our league. But social media fans seem 107 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: to think that you're going to In addition to the 108 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: two teams you're adding, one day, possibly have a team 109 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: in Barcelona, have a team in Madrid, have a team 110 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: in Russia. Is that a thought process to you know, 111 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: really make it a global game. Have NBA cities and 112 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: cities in Europe all in the same schedule. 113 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, well so number one. As you will know, we're 114 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 2: very much a global game now, of course. And you know, 115 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: basketball is the number two sport in the world after soccer. 116 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: I was over in France this past summer for the Olympics. 117 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: At least it was my view that we were the 118 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 2: hottest sport in Paris. You know, we saw some of 119 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 2: the best basketball played, some of the iconic games, you know, 120 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: in Serbia against France and the gold medal game, you know, 121 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: and check. I think these numbers are roughly right. When 122 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: you joined the NBA and when I joined the NBA 123 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety two, I think roughly five percent of 124 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: the players in the league were born outside the United States. 125 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: We're now getting close to thirty percent. And as we've 126 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: mentioned before, I mean some of the names, you know, 127 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: I've said, you know, it's whether women Yama or or 128 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: or or Tetakumpo are you know, the very best players Luca. 129 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 2: You know, I could go on, you know, some of 130 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: our very best players, Joker, et cetera. You know, we're 131 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,799 Speaker 2: born outside of the United States, so it's truly global. 132 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 2: Then the separate issue is are we at a point where, 133 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 2: you know, outside of Canada, we could have additional teams 134 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,679 Speaker 2: outside the United States. I mean, before you asked about 135 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 2: Europe specifically, but you know, I'll mention that, you know, 136 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: Mexico City is a market that we've been playing regular 137 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: season games and not just preseason games for a long time. 138 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 2: I think that's potentially very doable. It's closer to get 139 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: to Mexico City from New York than to get to 140 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: La You know, there's other issues involved. It's not about 141 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: to happen overnight, but I think that's a real opportunity 142 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 2: in Europe. One of the things we're looking at right now. 143 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 2: In fact, we're playing over in Paris, the Indiana Pacers 144 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: and the Spurs, you know, bringing Victor home to Paris, 145 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: are playing two games in late jan were there and 146 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 2: one of the things we've been discussing is whether before 147 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: we add NBA franchise in Europe, whether it's an opportunity 148 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: to do some sort of League, independent league in Europe, 149 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 2: you know, taking advantage of the enormous interest in the 150 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: game and these great European capitals like Paris and London 151 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: and Berlin, you know, Madrid because you know, other major 152 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: cities in Europe that love basketball. So that's something we're 153 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: looking at. And then the issue, I mean again, you're 154 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: you've always been a head of Curve Shack as a technologist. 155 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: Part of the issue here one I'll generally call it technology, 156 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: and it goes to air travel. Like you know that 157 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: when I was younger, there used to be supersonic flights 158 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 2: from Kennedy to Charles de gall Airport in Paris, and 159 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: we no longer have those. I know, I've read at 160 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: least that there are others supersonic jets sort of that 161 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: are in the process of coming to market. I think 162 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: if air tra we're faster between the United States and Europe, 163 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 2: it would certainly make it a lot easier. I mean, 164 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: the NFL, of course, is playing a fair amount of 165 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: regular season games in Europe, but when you're playing once 166 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: a week and you can have a bye week, it's 167 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 2: much different. We're playing roughly three and a half games 168 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 2: a week. The impact of air travel, time zone changes, 169 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 2: et cetera. It's it would be much more difficult for us, 170 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: but I think, you know, one day, maybe it'll be 171 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 2: my successor, but I could get I could definitely see, 172 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: you know, a division of NBA teams in Europe, and 173 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: I think it would be an incredible thing for the game.