NBA commissioner urges rest of league to focus on developing more great players

The Golden Warriors captured the 2017 NBA Championship and has made it look easy in the process, losing only once in 17 playoff games.

The league’s level of competition has certainly been questioned this year, as the two finalists—the Dubs and the Cleveland Cavaliers—were both expected by many to square off in the finale, even before the season began.

But instead of dwelling on the supposed “mismatch,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stressed that the other NBA teams must focus on developing their own talents in order to reach the pinnacle.

“Rather than focusing on the top of the league, we should be focusing on the rest of the league,” the league executive told the Washington Post.  “Rather than talking about how to break up or knock down a championship-caliber team, my focus should be on how we do a better job developing more great players in this league.”

Silver also pointed out the supposed “injustice” that the Warriors—who won a record-setting 73 wins in 2016 and went on to the NBA Finals—did in snagging a free agent like Kevin Durant to bolster its already stacked lineup.

“And yes, an incredible free agent was added to that squad,” he said. “All the focus seems to be on, ‘They’re too good’ as opposed to, ‘What is it we should be doing to create more great teams in this league?’”

Still, Silver somewhat issued a challenge to the rest of the league to catch up with the reigning champions and provide a more competitive and entertaining show to the fans.

“Let’s create more great teams, rather than completely focus on one incredible team and whether that’s seemingly unfair to the other team,” he said.

“I think it’s the nature of competition. Ultimately, it’s about raising the bar for all the teams in this league and celebrating excellence.”  Khristian Ibarrola /ra