Adam Silver
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
It was like, are you free two weeks from Tuesday or whatever? And I came and saw him. He gave me some advice about how I might transition out of the law. That's what I was interested in doing, and some media advice. And then I'll condense the story, because I've already been long-winded. At some point, he reached back out to me and said, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.
It was like, are you free two weeks from Tuesday or whatever? And I came and saw him. He gave me some advice about how I might transition out of the law. That's what I was interested in doing, and some media advice. And then I'll condense the story, because I've already been long-winded. At some point, he reached back out to me and said, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.
And it turned out he was looking for an assistant. And he ultimately hired me, and my first job at the NBA was special assistant to the commissioner. Worked for David. I was 30 years old. So 32 years ago, I came to work here and then worked as an assistant, then became chief of staff, I mentioned.
And it turned out he was looking for an assistant. And he ultimately hired me, and my first job at the NBA was special assistant to the commissioner. Worked for David. I was 30 years old. So 32 years ago, I came to work here and then worked as an assistant, then became chief of staff, I mentioned.
And it turned out he was looking for an assistant. And he ultimately hired me, and my first job at the NBA was special assistant to the commissioner. Worked for David. I was 30 years old. So 32 years ago, I came to work here and then worked as an assistant, then became chief of staff, I mentioned.
I then went to what was the entertainment side of the business, ran a division called NBA Entertainment for years, deputy commissioner. And so this is my sixth job, being commissioner. So I worked my way up the ladder.
I then went to what was the entertainment side of the business, ran a division called NBA Entertainment for years, deputy commissioner. And so this is my sixth job, being commissioner. So I worked my way up the ladder.
I then went to what was the entertainment side of the business, ran a division called NBA Entertainment for years, deputy commissioner. And so this is my sixth job, being commissioner. So I worked my way up the ladder.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Very, very cool. By the way, I have to say, I mean, You know, David changed my life in so many ways. And I had five different jobs before I was commissioner, all of them working for David. And I sort of would joke to people, even when I was the deputy commissioner, my job was still the special assistant to David Stern.
Very, very cool. By the way, I have to say, I mean, You know, David changed my life in so many ways. And I had five different jobs before I was commissioner, all of them working for David. And I sort of would joke to people, even when I was the deputy commissioner, my job was still the special assistant to David Stern.
Very, very cool. By the way, I have to say, I mean, You know, David changed my life in so many ways. And I had five different jobs before I was commissioner, all of them working for David. And I sort of would joke to people, even when I was the deputy commissioner, my job was still the special assistant to David Stern.
I mean, you guys, everybody is, you know, you may have had a chance to meet him over the years. I mean, he was full of life. He was a genius when it came to sports marketing. I think as much credit as he gets, maybe not enough for transforming the whole industry, not just the NBA, just everybody's approach. Even I remember.
I mean, you guys, everybody is, you know, you may have had a chance to meet him over the years. I mean, he was full of life. He was a genius when it came to sports marketing. I think as much credit as he gets, maybe not enough for transforming the whole industry, not just the NBA, just everybody's approach. Even I remember.
I mean, you guys, everybody is, you know, you may have had a chance to meet him over the years. I mean, he was full of life. He was a genius when it came to sports marketing. I think as much credit as he gets, maybe not enough for transforming the whole industry, not just the NBA, just everybody's approach. Even I remember.
When I came to work at the NBA, I mean, he was the first person who really thought of the NBA as a brand, you know, as a brand marketer, even though his background was as a lawyer. I mean, now it's just a given that NBA is a brand, MLB, NHL, NFL, obviously. You know, but it's like he had a whole different way, a whole different vocabulary of approaching sports.
When I came to work at the NBA, I mean, he was the first person who really thought of the NBA as a brand, you know, as a brand marketer, even though his background was as a lawyer. I mean, now it's just a given that NBA is a brand, MLB, NHL, NFL, obviously. You know, but it's like he had a whole different way, a whole different vocabulary of approaching sports.
When I came to work at the NBA, I mean, he was the first person who really thought of the NBA as a brand, you know, as a brand marketer, even though his background was as a lawyer. I mean, now it's just a given that NBA is a brand, MLB, NHL, NFL, obviously. You know, but it's like he had a whole different way, a whole different vocabulary of approaching sports.