NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his surprise over the recent news that Luka Doncic had been traded to the Lakers two weeks prior. According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, Silver revealed during his annual press conference at All-Star Weekend that he received no advance notice about the transaction.

He also chose not to criticize the Mavericks, who have faced heavy backlash from their supporters for trading Doncic.

“I can say one thing for certain: Regardless of how history views this trade, they acted in what they believed to be their organization’s best interest,” Silver said. “I have no reason to suspect any hidden motives; it’s clear to me that the Dumont-Adelson families acquired that team to maintain it in Dallas. They are unequivocally committed to the long-term success of the franchise.”

Silver acknowledged feeling “empathetic” toward the Dallas fans disappointed by the trade, especially considering that Anthony Davis suffered an injury in his first game with his new team.

“Only time will tell if this was a wise decision,” Silver noted. “But they should have faith in their organization.”

During his discussion with reporters, Silver touched on several other subjects, as Reynolds highlighted:

• The Hornets reached out to the league office after the Lakers canceled their trade for Mark Williams, although Charlotte has yet to file a formal grievance. “We’re waiting to see what Charlotte decides to do, but it has certainly captured our attention. We recognize that reducing uncertainty in team transactions is beneficial,” Silver commented.
• The league is currently awaiting a response from Timberwolves majority owner Glen Taylor following an arbitration panel’s ruling that favored Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. Silver expressed optimism about the approval of the team sale but refrained from speaking on behalf of the Board of Governors. “That’s ultimately Glen’s choice. I haven’t discussed this with him, but I believe A-Rod and Marc Lore are familiar figures in the league and have already been vetted and accepted as minority owners. They were aware that the league had no involvement in this arbitration process,” he stated.
• The league has decided not to repeat last year’s All-Star Weekend shooting challenge featuring Stephen Curry and WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu. Silver explained, “Last year’s competition was so special that it began to feel forced, and we were all concerned that the magic just wasn’t there this time.”
• Silver noted improvements in the NBA’s television ratings, although he admitted he hopes to see even better numbers. He added that the league tracks its viewership through various metrics and is currently enjoying “record popularity” across social media platforms.