Adam Silver

Adam Silver was born on April 25, 1962, in Rye, New York, into a Jewish-American family. His father, Edward Silver, was a renowned labor law attorney. Silver attended Rye High School, graduating in 1980. He then pursued higher education at Duke University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1984. Following his undergraduate studies, he served as a legislative aide for U.S. Representative Les AuCoin from 1984 to 1985. Silver furthered his education at the University of Chicago Law School, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree in 1988. After law school, he clerked for Judge Kimba Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and later worked as an associate at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Silver embarked on his career with the NBA in 1992, initially holding positions such as senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NBA Entertainment. He steadily advanced within the organization, eventually becoming the President and COO of NBA Entertainment for eight years. During this period, he executive produced notable films like “Michael Jordan to the Max,” “Whatever Happened to Micheal Ray?,” and contributed to productions such as “Like Mike” and “The Year of the Yao.” His early career also included roles as NBA chief of staff and special assistant to the commissioner.

In 2006, Silver was appointed NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, a role he held for eight years. In this capacity, he was instrumental in negotiating three collective bargaining agreements, developing the WNBA and NBA Development League, and forging key partnerships including one with Turner Broadcasting for digital assets and the creation of NBA China. On February 1, 2014, he succeeded David Stern as the fifth NBA Commissioner. Under his leadership, the NBA has experienced continued economic and global expansion. He notably banned Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, for life in 2014 following racist remarks, resulting in a $2.5 million fine and forcing the sale of the team. Silver also advocated for legalized and regulated sports betting in 2014 and steered the league through the COVID-19 pandemic by suspending and then resuming the 2019–20 NBA season in a protective ‘bubble’ in Orlando. His tenure has been marked by significant media rights deals and a commitment to addressing various social and political issues.