It’s been five years since Adam Silver took the mantle of commissioner of the NBA from David Stern, and he’s done so well at the helm that he’s garnered strong interest from inside the NFL to make the sport switch and take over their league.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Thursday that some inside the league have thought Silver would be better for owners than Roger Goodell.
“Several NFL owners have tried to persuade Silver to run their league over the course of his five years as the NBA’s commissioner,” the report said in part. But so far, that’s a proposal that Silver has rebuffed. Speaking ahead of All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, Silver shot down any potential job change and reiterated his love for his current occupation.
“I’ll just say I have not given it any thought,” Silver told ESPN. “I feel very fortunate to be in this position. As a longtime fan, as a longtime league employee, the opportunity to become the commissioner of this league was beyond anything I even ever dreamed of as a kid.”
Silver just signed a five-year contract extension with the NBA in June, one that will keep him employed as commissioner through the 2023-2024 season. Silver’s tenure has included many universally-lauded moves, from issuing a lifetime ban to Donald Sterling to pushing the NBA to the forefront of sports betting.
On the flip side, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s stint has been marked by controversy and criticism, from his handling of Ray Rice and other player discipline issues to the quality of the league’s officials. For now, at least, Silver isn’t entertaining the thought of taking on the challenge of running the NFL.
“I’ve loved every day I’ve been in this job, and I think there’s nothing but enormous opportunity ahead for this league,” Silver said. “And ultimately, I realize I’m just passing through like every player who’s gone through this league and ultimately like every owner, and I feel an enormous obligation to the fans and to this greater NBA family to do my best and try my hardest every day. But that’s where 100 percent of my focus is.”
