Unofficial Nevada Sports Commissioner (He Just Happens To Be Governor) Schmoozes With NBA Commish At NBA Summer League Day 3 Sunday
By Alan Snel
LVSportsBiz.com
He has been known to wear Derek Carr’s number four Raiders jersey and he’s been pictured in the Vegas Golden Knights’ hockey sweater, too.
Steve Sisolak loves sports, so it’s doubtful anyone had to twist the governor’s arm to get him to attend the NBA Summer League Day 3 at Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus Sunday.
That’s why the unofficial Sports Commissioner of Nevada appeared to enjoy his courtside seat schmoozing with another commish — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
The Sisolak and Silver chat session during the Spurs-Hornets game at Thomas & Mack Center was a social call.
Though. it’s hard to fathom that the topic of an NBA team in Las Vegas down the road didn’t come up. It’s no secret that MGM Resorts International, the NBA Summer League’s title sponsor, craves an NBA team as a co-tenant in its T-Mobile Arena on the Strip.
The governor and the NBA commissioner posed for a photo and they left their courtside seats after the Spurs-Hornets game concluded.
Silver is no stranger to Las Vegas. He attended the CES electronics show in January to chat about the NBA’s interest in Twitter during a breakout session and he will undoubtedly spend some quality time with MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren during his Summer League stay this month.
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After the NBA Summer League packed Thomas & Mack with two straight sellouts of 17,500 on Days 1 and 2, there were seats to spare and room to roam the main concourse Sunday.
The international press core was impressive as media from China and Croatia were following those countries’ national basketball teams that are playing here along with all 30 NBA clubs.
The NBA Summer League, which began in Cox Pavilion and was not even sanctioned by the NBA when it began 15 years ago, has blossomed into an international basketball epicenter with media from Europe and Asia on campus to follow teams and international players.
Now there are many affiliated events such as annual sports business session and meetings for former NBA players on starting new businesses.
Here’s fan photo number two: A Los Angeles Clippers fan customizes his Clip jersey to update it with a new player.
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The Summer League is a lot like baseball’s spring training, a relaxed atmosphere where fans get close to players, coaches and retired NBAers. Here’s our fan photo of the day. Note the fan with the old-fashion composition book.
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LVSportsBiz.com’s coverage of the NBA Summer League is sponsored by: AdoreOil.
