NBA commissioner Adam Silver conceded on Saturday night that the league needs to address the Hack-A-Player epidemic.
Silver said at his All-Star Weekend address that his view on the issue is beginning to evolve, and a rule change may well be required.
“My personal view is beginning to change on the issue,” Silver said, via Ken Berger of CBS Sports. “Last summer, I said I was personally on the fence. I’m beginning to feel that a change needs to be made.”
According to Silver, the tactic has been employed 5.5 times more often this season as compared to last. He also admitted that, along with fan discontent, the league’s TV partners have had conversations with him about the unappealing viewing that the tactic brings with it.
That said, Silver admitted that the way forward is unclear.
“Even among the strongest critics of the so-called Hack-a-Shaq strategy, there doesn’t appear to be any consensus on what the new rule should be,” Silver said. “It’s easy to say, ‘I hate the strategy,’ but it’s a much more, I think, difficult issue to decide exactly what the new rule should be.”
There are people that would like to see the strategy remain, however. Mark Cuban and Kevin Durant are among them. Silver may face some resistance in his upcoming efforts.
