Commissioner Adam Silver Says NBA Should Rival the NFL in Popularity

The new Commissioner has lofty goals for the NBA on the domestic front. Adam Silver was in Sacramento on Wednesday, and during the telecast of the Raptors/Kings game, he outlined some of his vision for the future and growth of the NBA. Per SB Nation:

“As much as we talk about international […] I still think there’s an enormous opportunity in the United States. […] I think this game should be a rival to football. In the United States, it’s the No. 1 participatory sport. We’ve all played it. I want to focus on the game. The business is going well, but this is a beautiful game.”

The NFL sees annual revenues of about $10 billion, compared to the NBA’s $4 billion. NFL playoff TV ratings often double or triple those of the NBA. The annual Harris Interactive poll about sports this year found that 36 percent of respondents consider pro football their favorite sport. Pro basketball claims five percent.