Who owns the NBA? Looking at the organizational structure of the league
Many basketball fans have asked, "Who owns the NBA?" Many fans have heard about team owners but don't know who owns the entire league.
The NBA is the most prestigious basketball league in the world. It is a successful business that generates billions of dollars annually.
To answer who owns the league, we need to take a deeper look at the organizational structure of the league.
Who owns the NBA? Is it Adam Silver?
If you google "Who owns the NBA," you will likely see Adam Silver's name pop up. He is the league's commissioner and plays an essential role in the organization of the league.
However, Adam Silver does not own the NBA. He has the authority to manage the league. The commissioner can make big decisions and even suspend team owners who do not behave appropriately.
If you want to know who owns the NBA, we could say that the team owners do. We should look at the league as a consortium where each team owner has an equal part of the ownership.
Each team has an owner, so they all own the NBA together. Some of the most famous owners are Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets), Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks), Steve Ballmer (Los Angeles Clippers) and Jeanie Buss (Los Angeles Lakers).
Not only do team owners have control over their respective teams, but they also decide who becomes the NBA commissioner.
Adam Silver is the fifth commissioner of the NBA. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Silver's duties include the administration of the league, negotiations of TV deals and the league's promotion.
In his first year as commissioner, he forced Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers. He also suspended Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns.
How NBA commissioners impact the game
NBA commissioners are essential for the league. Their job is to make the league successful and turn it into a global brand.
The late David Stern was an NBA commissioner for 30 years. Thanks to him, the basketball league has spread all over the world.
He was succeeded by Adam Silver in 2014, who has also done a fantastic job for the league. NBA commissioners may not own the entire league. However, they play a huge role. Without them, the whole brand would fall apart.