Nope.

We're going to stand up for free speech.

That's amazing that he did that, Um, what kind of a partner have the MBA players had in the n B A.

And Vice versa.

Give the players credit for being good partners to the league because together they figured out a way to get all the local TV money hitting the 72 game benchmark this past season to have a complete playoffs without a single cove in case the playoffs.

So great, by the way, they were thrilling and to crown a champion.

So when Adam Silver comes out, it's just like when I say with the Cowboys, even they do, they get a pass.

Wait a minute.

How much equity have you built up?

What do you what have you been about what Adam Silver comes out and says, Guys, this is what it is.

There's TV money on the line.

I think we got to start here.

This'll is not a guy twirling his mustache trying to do your dirty.

This is a guy who's just telling you the reality.

If the MBA wants the economy to keep growing or at least not shrink by almost a half a billion or more dollars.

You got to start before Christmas is a couple of things.

Number one.

It's not just Adam Silver, it's the networks.

20% viewership is down and it was down in the summer You've got got, you've got a league that does and networks that doesn't want the N B A.

Colliding with the Olympics or going into an NFL season because it drastically affect their ratings and compromises their bottom line.

Part of the reason as a from a collective bargaining standpoint that you're in a position offered the players the money that they're getting offered.

They've got 50% basketball related income of 50 50 split, but we know every category doesn't fall under the guise of basketball related income.

We know that the owners of getting some extra dollars on the side, we get all of that.

But the flip side to it is this.

If you know that ratings are compromised and it's going to cost the networks money and that network money is what facilitates owners negotiating collective bargaining deals with you, that enables you to get your money, then ultimately you've got that to deal with and keep in mind, Max, that I brought up the force majeure clause, which allows the NBA to completely just just kill the collective bargaining agreement they presently have in place because of how the pandemic has ravaged the business.

So if you are a player from a business perspective, because we know they pride themselves on being businessman, it's important and imperative to understand that the MBA has that hovering over you.

They can reopen collective bargaining talks.

They could sit up there and say, Look, we lost this money.

We want this back from you.

Let's re negotiate our collective bargaining agreement and all of that is potentially on the table and the reason why you're willing to jeopardize all of that coming to the forefront is because you don't want to show up two weeks earlier and three days before Christmas.

That's just not intelligent.

That's just not intelligence.

Stephen A.

Howard, David Stern have handled this a little differently, right?

But there was a lot of faith in him because he kept growing the league and growing the business.

Adam Silver took over for one of most successful commissioners who ever lived in any sport, and he's done an outstanding job, and sometimes he has put principle over profit.

And at other times he said, Guys, this is the reality.

I see no principle standing in the way of this profit.

So when I bring it when you're like, that's what the networks were saying, Yes, that's what I'm saying.

Adam Silver's thoughts are for the best interests of the league, and in this case, it's not always the case, but and in this case, that includes the player.

Let me even if they're having to take medicine, they don't want to take Oh my God, the season just ended.

We got to start again.

Yeah, you did like you should.

You probably should let me educate you about something.

Adam Silver is phenomenal, and I know this, but some of it he learned under David Stern because he was David Stern's with Deputy for several years.

Let Z number number one Number two.

David Stern was clearly more abrasive than Adam Silver.

No doubt about that, but Adam Silver is brilliant and and and we all know this.

But David Stern arguably was the goat and David Stern, many many years ago, told me this personally, God rest his soul, he said.

Look, anybody who walks into negotiation, trying to win every little thing ends up losing because you alienate the partners that you need to work with you in order to make the league flourish.

And so it's important that the players flip that and understand that as well.

Yeah, you might be in a position to sit up there and make demands, and you may want what you want, and it may be justified.

But in the end, if the league could turn around and say, You know what?

Fine.

We'll reopen of collective bargaining talks or you're gonna have to give us back $600 million or whatever the case may be.

How do you win?

When all you had to do, we show up to work 2 to 3 weeks earlier.

That makes no sense, and that's how they got it.

And the best.

The best negotiations not to sound naive is, and you know, results in situations where all parties win, all parties benefit, and there's also sacrifice made on all sides, right.

You don't get everything as you mentioned and to get to me at least, did what Adam Silver's proposing makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

Subscribe to ESPN plus.