Adam Silver reflects on the fading presence of NBA dynasties: "I'm sure Sam Presti isn't ready to hear that"
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently addressed the state of the league. After Tuesday's Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas, he discussed one key topic: NBA team dynasties — or rather, their absence in recent years.
While the prevailing circumstances pointed in a clear direction, Silver took a measured approach on the matter.
The double-edged nature of NBA dynasties
When NBA fans reflect on the league's rich history, the word 'dynasty' inevitably comes to mind. Think of the Boston Celtics' relentless dominance in the 1960s, the flashy Showtime Lakers of the 1980s, or the Chicago Bulls' unforgettable three-peats in the 1990s.
But dynasties are a double-edged sword.
On one hand, they represent legendary dominance — teams that didn't just win but defined entire eras by repeatedly crushing the competition and standing strong when everyone was gunning for them. That dynamic created countless legends and icons — including Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan — now celebrated in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
On the other hand, dynasties reveal a more troubling side.
When one team racks up multiple titles over a short span, it suggests an unbalanced league lacking true parity and fair talent distribution. This hurts competition, lowers TV ratings, damages the NBA's overall image, and makes tanking even more tempting.
To address this, the NBA introduced its collective bargaining agreement (CBA)—a negotiated contract, most recently ratified in April 2023, between the league and the players' union that sets the rules for salary caps, player movement, drafts, and revenue sharing.
What's next for the NBA?
The CBA can be summed up simply: it aims to level the playing field, giving any well-run franchise a real shot at success. That mission seems to be working better than ever.
After all, the Oklahoma City Thunder's recent victory in the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers marked a remarkable milestone: the league's seventh different champion in as many seasons, dating back to 2019.
Meanwhile, if we go back just a handful of years, the NBA landscape was dominated by a few teams, mainly the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. These two historic franchises combined to win eight of the first 11 championships of the 2000s.
The trend is hard to ignore, raising the question of whether NBA fans have seen the end of dominant dynasties. The commissioner isn't so sure.
Silver said he would be 'perfectly comfortable' if the league returned to one team dominating repeatedly, while also appreciating the current era's competitive parity.
'I like what we're seeing right now,' he remarked.
Ultimately, no one — not even Silver himself — can settle the dynasty debate for good.
'I'm not ready to declare that we won't have dynasties,' the 63-year-old said, before delivering a lighthearted quip.
The Thunder, led by stellar General Manager Sam Presti, are tipped to become the league's next dynasty if any team can break the mold. With that in mind, Silver added, 'I'm sure Sam Presti isn't ready to hear that.'This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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