During an appearance with Amazon Prime Video’s NBA studio crew Tuesday night, Silver showered praise on Prime’s early NBA coverage while slipping in a not-so-subtle critique of other broadcast partners. The moment came during Prime’s coverage tied to the NBA Cup final between the Spurs and Knicks in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it immediately stood out as more than just polite commissioner chatter.
Silver, sitting alongside Prime’s studio team of Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, Udonis Haslem, Dirk Nowitzki, and Steve Nash, made it clear he has been watching closely. “Of course I’ve been watching it,” Silver said. “By the way, in all honesty, I love the chemistry of you guys. It’s obvious why you did so well in a team sport. The chemistry’s just fantastic.” That alone sounds like a standard compliment, but Silver did not stop there. He leaned into what he feels has been missing from some NBA coverage and why Prime’s approach hits differently.
“I’ll also just say quickly, as a fan, I think you do a great job educating other fans about the game,” Silver continued. “That I would say has frustrated me in the past about some coverage, when it’s sort of reduced to ‘One side wanted it more’ or ‘This side played harder.’” Fans were also in support of this, as one stated on X, “The sneak diss was great.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Joins Prime Bordast Crew in Las Vegas, Nevada
There it was. No network mentioned, no personalities called out, but the message was crystal clear. Silver wants smarter basketball conversations on TV, and Prime is delivering exactly what he has been asking for. He went on to explain what he appreciates most about Prime’s breakdown-heavy style. “When you guys are explaining like ‘Why can’t a guy get a shot off’ or ‘Why is a particular defense working?’ I think the studio you guys built is off the charts,” Silver said. “When you guys go out on the floor and demonstrate things, I can tell you as a fan I love that part of the coverage.”
For anyone who has spent years watching NBA studio shows devolve into hot takes, yelling matches, or personality-driven criticism, Silver’s comments felt like a quiet endorsement of a new era. And it lined up neatly with previous reporting from Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, who wrote earlier this season that “happiness is what the NBA wants from media partners Amazon Prime Video, NBC Sports, and ABC/ESPN this season.”
Adam Silver Throws Some Shade?
The timing is also interesting. While Silver did not specify which coverage styles frustrate him, it is impossible not to think about the louder, harsher studio voices that have defined NBA television for decades. Former players on Inside the NBA, like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, are beloved but famously blunt. Stephen A. Smith, who is no longer a fixture on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, built an empire on fiery opinions. Smith has insisted he was not “yanked” from the show and simply did not want to be a regular anymore, but it is hard to imagine Silver losing sleep over the shift.
This is not the first time Silver has talked about this issue, either. Earlier this year, he voiced similar frustrations on Kenny Beecham’s Numbers on the Board podcast.
“Sometimes I think they don’t spend enough time talking about why people love this game,” Silver said. He even referenced a conversation with legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. “He condensed it with this headline. He said we should educate people about the game and celebrate the game. Educate and celebrate. I wish there was more of that.”
That philosophy feels baked into Prime’s NBA coverage so far. The presence of former players who clearly enjoy teaching the game, paired with a modern presentation style, aligns perfectly with Silver’s vision. It also signals where the league wants things to go as media deals evolve and new platforms like streaming take center stage. In one fell swoop, Silver applauded Amazon Prime Video, reinforced what he wants from all NBA broadcasters, and gently nudged the rest of the industry to step it up. No shouting required.
