The NBA just wrapped its 2024-25 regular season with numbers that raised alarms across the league office. Ratings slipped by 2% compared to the previous year, averaging 1.53 million viewers on national networks. This marked the lowest since 2021, when pandemic disruptions loomed. Even more worrying, NBA TV’s average audience dropped 24%, falling to just 250,000. While moments like Luka Dončić’s shocking midseason trade gave ratings a temporary lift, the season’s overall dip revealed something deeper. Fan interest is clearly starting to wane, and Adam Silver has to confront it.

The frustration deepened when Silver addressed the rising costs of following an NBA season. His response left many fans scratching their heads. “There’s a huge amount of our content that people can essentially consume for free,” Silver told reporters. He went on to call basketball “very much a highlights-based sport” and even mentioned platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. In his words, “There’s an enormous amount of content out there. YouTube, another example that is advertising based that consumers can consume.” While Silver’s words were meant to soften concerns, they instead raised new questions. Was he reducing the full game experience to just viral clips?

Further, what about the prices NBA fans have to pay in order to actually catch game-coverage? If Silver believes relevant content can be found on social media, does it not put a question mark over the worth of the paid subscriptions NBA fans have to endure in order to actually watch games?

That’s exactly where Kyle Kuzma stepped in, sparking debate across social media. The former Lakers forward reposted Silver’s quote on Instagram with a simple yet pointed caption. “This is respectfully why the game is in a weird place.” His words cut deep, echoing the thoughts of many longtime fans. By calling out the commissioner directly, Kuzma put the responsibility for declining interest squarely on Silver’s shoulders. Could the league’s own messaging be pushing fans away rather than pulling them in?

For those unaware, the financial strain is real for everyday fans. League Pass alone runs $13.99 a month, but that’s just the beginning. Combine it with YouTube TV, Peacock Premium, and Prime Video, and costs soar close to $120 monthly. Traditional cable bundles don’t help either, often pushing totals beyond $140. These numbers are staggering when compared to household expenses like phone bills. And though the new $76 billion deal expands coverage, fans already fear its scattered schedule will only complicate access further.

What makes this story even more intriguing is the cultural shift underneath the money. Silver’s description of the NBA as a “highlights-based sport” almost admits that full games aren’t the league’s primary product anymore. But that mindset risks alienating the very core fans who once lived for every quarter, every play, every possession. Kuzma’s remark, then, feels less like a jab and more like a wake-up call. The league may need to rethink not just its prices, but its vision of the game itself. If the NBA commissioner is out here stating that the sport is highlights-based, is he not encouraging fans to further deviate from official subscriptions and simply rely on social media to stay connected to the NBA?

Adam Silver’s European vision sparks new conversations

Other than the backlash over his comments on viewing costs, Adam Silver’s global ambitions have also entered the spotlight. This time, the commissioner spoke about the NBA’s long-discussed European project, drawing curiosity and questions from fans worldwide.

Silver revealed that discussions with stakeholders remain active, noting the involvement of NBA stars and European icons. He shared that “no new news” exists on domestic expansion, assuring fans that U.S. growth is not being overlooked. Instead, he presented the European league as a long-term commercial and competitive opportunity, not a sudden shift in priorities.

The proposal itself is bold. NBA Europe would operate separately from current franchises but under the NBA brand, echoing the model of the Basketball Africa League. Silver compared the approach to blending permanent teams with qualifiers, ensuring both elite competition and local participation. Earlier meetings in Geneva with FIBA and EuroLeague clubs touched on sensitive issues such as team calendars and player regulations. While conversations were described as constructive, some EuroLeague sides pushed back over proposed participation fees.

Support for the concept has grown, however, with Tony Parker voicing optimism about its potential. Silver pointed to evidence such as sellout crowds during the Paris Olympics and the recent rise of European MVPs as clear signs of demand. If plans continue to advance, the commissioner suggested a launch could arrive as early as the 2026–27 season.

For Silver, the European initiative is part of a bigger picture, balancing global expansion with maintaining focus at home. Even though he admitted that nothing about the process is easy, his steady approach signals that the NBA intends to push its reach further than ever before.