NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dismisses chatter about career switch

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OAKLAND, CA – MAY 31: Commissioner Adam Silver of the NBA addresses the media before Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018 in Oakland, California. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is flattered by the reports that the NFL and Fortune 500 companies are interested in recruiting him for future leadership positions.

That said, he has a message for those indulging in the speculation: He’s not going anywhere.

“I love my job at the NBA,” he told CNBC on Saturday. “The NBA has never been on a greater trajectory and I couldn’t be happier with my job.”

During Silver’s five years as Commissioner, league revenues have doubled to over $9 billion, and team valuations have never been higher. The average NBA team is worth just under $2 billion, according to Forbes, up 267 percent in five years.

However, it’s not just about the money. Silver is frequently praised by both owners and players for his leadership ability.

“He’s steady as a rock and the most graceful businessman I’ve been around,” Washington Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis said in a recent interview with CNBC.

“Adam has really taken the league by storm,” said Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca. “He’s been ahead of all the trends, he helped globalize the game. Arguably [he’s] one of the best CEOs that we’ve seen in sports.”

Despite his rapid success, Silver says he’s confident there’s more room to grow. On Saturday the league announced in 2020 it will launch the Basketball Africa League, featuring 12 teams from Africa. It’s a continuation of the expanded investment the NBA has put into expanding the game across the globe, especially in Africa.

“Think about the global opportunity for the league. We are doing all kinds of new things in Africa, China and India,” Silver said, adding that more kids are playing basketball than ever before around the world.

Silver expected the NBA’s most immediate source of growth would come from increased streaming of games around the world. He is also bullish on electronic sports (esports) and sports gambling, but admits that sports gambling growth has been slower than many people expected.

“I truly think the best days of the league are still ahead of us. Even Michael Jordan was saying the same thing,” he told CNBC.