Adam Silver unveils the NBA jersey of the future. pic.twitter.com/h5GePOwOjx

— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2019

This digital jersey witchcraft comes just a couple of days after ESPN reported how badly the NFL has been trying to convince him to sack Roger Goodell and become commissioner of the NFL.

Just look at the growth of the NBA under Silver:

“League revenues have increased from $4.8 billion to a projected $9.1 billion in Silver’s five years.”

and the growth of individual teams as well:

“Team valuations have increased by 267 percent, from an average of $509 million in 2013 to $1.9 billion in the latest Forbes Magazine valuations.”

The NBA has become the most popular sport in the world for anyone under the age of 25 and its not even close. The NBA and Fortnite are what kids care about and not necessarily in that order. I went to a youth basketball game last night and the effect is real:

At a youth basketball game before I’ve even had a coffee.

— The 300s (@The300sBoston) February 9, 2019

The Steph Curry effect is real. Every single kid is jacking up threes. pic.twitter.com/p4Br0dcT0y

— The 300s (@The300sBoston) February 9, 2019

Another kid just hit a shot and did the Yabusele bow and arrow celebration. pic.twitter.com/uyc7D41bSx

— The 300s (@The300sBoston) February 9, 2019

The Yabu kid just flopped at half court trying to draw a charge away from the play. I can’t help but blame Marcus Smart for this.

— The 300s (@The300sBoston) February 9, 2019

A lot of that credit has to go to Adam Silver. Sure players not having to wear helmets that hide their face helps, but he’s made the NBA the most marketing friendly sport we’ve ever seen. It routinely embraces cultural trends, technology, and social media, and he’s had the NBA at the head of the line for two of the biggest opportunities in America: esports and legalized gambling.

I’m calling it right now. As the most progressive league in professional sports, the NBA will be the one to partner with the first national marketing campaign for recreational cannabis. Oh the NFL banned a marijuana commercial? Well Adam Silver will use that opportunity to make anyone even associated with the league even more money.

Just patently absurd how good this man is at his job and he ain’t resting. I still hate the advertising patches on jerseys and expect it to only get more distracting, but hey money talks.