NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was in Indianapolis Monday for a number of meetings and visits before taking in the Indiana Pacers game against the Toronto Raptors.
As to be expected, the Commissioner’s schedule is jam-packed.
Earlier in the day, he spoke at the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Then, he came to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, met with team officials, had an hour-long discussion with Pacers Sports and Entertainment employees, and more than two hours before tip-off, he met with local media members for 10 minutes.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel said pregame that he had not visited with Silver. Surely the commissioner will make his way through both locker room before night’s over.
Watch Adam Silver’s interview with the media below:
The Highlights —
On the Pacers’ turnaround:
I think they’re doing a fantastic job. Earlier today, I was in a meeting with Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh and Kevin Pritchard and I said to them, ‘Tied for the best record coming out of All-Star [break] is just fantastic.’ And I was joking with them, reminding them that after the Paul George injury, how of the so-called experts wrote off the Pacers. It’s wonderful to see.
On the purpose of his visit:
The general purpose is to check in with the team. There was a luncheon today at the Rotary Club here in Indianapolis they asked me to speak to. I got a chance to engage with the larger staff, spend some time with them. I have a few other meetings with Herb Simon and part of his management group. I just try to get around the league and meet with as many teams as I can, and of course I’m here for the game tonight as well.
On his message to the Rotary Club:
The message to the Rotary Club was what a fabulous community this is, and I think part of the Rotary Club is about service — and I said so much of what the NBA is about as well. We see it here with this team, how integral they are with the community. The message I’m always saying to teams around the league is that it’s a zero-sum game in terms of wins and losses. I wish the league office manufactured more wins but I know that roughly half our teams are always going to have records below .500, and only one team is going to be the champion. So ultimately what it is about is the relationships that are built in these communities and that’s when your fans stay with you during good times and bad times. And I think we’re seeing here just a very well-run franchise.
On the future of the Pacers franchise:
I think the future is spectacular. Herb Simon and his family have a locked, long-term commitment to this community. Herb Simon is actually, I was just pointing out, the longest-tenured owner in the NBA now. He and his brother [Mel] bought the team in 1983 so there’s this incredible history there. Herb Simon, since my early days in the league, he served as the chairmen of the board at one point. He’s still a very active committee member. He’s still very active in league affairs, a mentor to me. It’s great to see the franchise run so well. And compliments to Rick Fuson as well, in terms of how well this arena is run, active probably 300 dates a year. And we’re seeing this movement they really began here where arenas become part of the downtown community.
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On the league’s perspective on Indianapolis perhaps hosting another All-Star game:
We’d love to come back here for All-Star. Look, you guys host some of the biggest events in the country. You have another Final Four coming here this year, Super Bowls have been here, and we’d love to have another All-Star game here.
Enjoying NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at Rotary pic.twitter.com/yQ7zSrnLZH
— Elaine Bedel (@ElaineBedel) March 16, 2015
@ChrisDenari leading Q&A with @NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and @Pacers staff! pic.twitter.com/gHkzxPsq0X
— Pacers Cares (@PacersCares) March 16, 2015