Did Adam Silver Ever Play Basketball Professionally? Digging Deeper Into How the 62-Year-Old Became the NBA Commissioner

The boss of perhaps one of the most influential leagues in the world Adam Silver needs no introduction. One of the most formidable figures in the sports business has been a central figure of the sport for more than 10 years now. Throughout the ups and downs of his tenure, one thing that many will coincide with is that he has played his fair share of part in revolutionizing men’s basketball. However, in order to take monumental steps for the game’s betterment, an in-court experience proves to be a crucial ground for decision-making. Was that the case with Silver? Let’s find out.

What was the college episode of Adam Silver with basketball?

To answer the query regarding Silver’s playing status, there isn’t any conclusive record of that anywhere. Anyhow, after completing his high school from Rye High School in 1980, he enrolled at Duke University. Despite being a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, he kept his close association with the hardwood. Besides this, his time at the college was parallel to the initial four years of Mike Krzyzewski’s reign with the Blue Devils.

Following this, he graduated in 1984 and worked alongside members of the U.S. House of Representatives Les AuCoin for a year. Then, in 1985, Adam Silver pursued his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Chicago Law School. After its completion in 1988, he decided to serve as a law clerk for Judge Kimba Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Soon after, Silver became an associate at the renowned law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

From here on, his journey towards the basketball court started to take off.

Silver’s advent to the NBA world

The year was 1992 when Adam Silver first stepped foot inside the realm of professional basketball. Initially, he was a part of the NBA Entertainment and oversaw IMAX releases such as Michael Jordan to the Max as its executive producer. Moreover, Silver was also a part of documentaries like Whatever Happened to Micheal Ray, Like Mike, and The Year of the Yao. The experience he gained in this field helped him in taking up the role of Chief Operating Officer, President, and Chief Operating Officer of NBA Entertainment in the upcoming years. Further, Silver was the COO of NBA Entertainment for 8 years.

In 2006, the league saw it fitting to appoint him as the deputy commissioner. His contributions from there on were instrumental as he played a vital hand in the NBA’s signature projects. Additionally, he worked towards the betterment of the WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League, and Basketball Africa League. Later on, Silver’s involvement flourished in the league’s digital platforms and he had a significant say in the creation of NBA China and NBA Africa. His efforts then received thorough recognition when on Feb. 1, 2014, Silver chaired the position of NBA Commissioner for the first time.

This followed a series of resounding decisions that strengthened the complexion of the NBA.

Commissioner’s firm grip on the NBA

In less than a year of taking charge, Adam Silver made his intentions clear regarding the sports betting laws in a column in The New York Times. After nearly two decades of complacency in its expansion, he was convinced that the rules required a modification. Since then, he has helped bring in legal wagering in multiple states in order to deal with the tarnished integrity caused by the fallout of betting-related scandals.

Further, Silver had a very strict approach to handling the racism surfacing in the NBA. For example, he had no second thoughts in handing Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling a fine of $2.5 million along with a life-long ban. Not so long ago, Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver faced his wrath when he was punished for misconduct. Many believe that this led to him selling the Suns for $4 billion in 2022.

Such fearless and bold decisions have resulted in Silver garnering numerous accolades throughout his tenure.

Various honors glorifying Silver

The list of achievements of Adam Silver is quite an extensive one. The Sports Business Journal recognized him as the Executive of the Decade and awarded him the No.1 rank in the annual list of the 50 Most Influential People. In addition to this, Silver also made his way into TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and got a similar reception from Fortune’s 50 Greatest Leaders, and The Bloomberg 50.

There is no denying that Adam Silver has had an enormous impact on the development of men’s basketball. His contributions as a Commissioner and before that are of great significance for the future. The results of this will soon be reflected shortly.