Mark Cuban breaks silence on Adam Silver’s claim that NBA highlights offset rising ticket and streaming costs for fans

Mark Cuban is no longer the most visible owner in the NBA, but the Dallas Mavericks minority stakeholder still has plenty to say when it comes to how fans experience the game. With ticket prices rising and streaming platforms battling for broadcast rights, commissioner Adam Silver has faced mounting criticism over accessibility. Cuban, never shy about weighing in and also with the understanding of the business side of it, gave his candid reaction on Silver.The NBA recently approved a new “heave rule” to encourage players to attempt last-second shots, but the bigger debate among fans has centered around how much it costs to simply watch a game. During the discussion, Silver defended the league’s approach, suggesting that fans who can’t afford full packages could still access highlights and free broadcast games. “The NBA is a highlight league,” Silver said, according to sports analyst Rachel Nichols.That explanation didn’t sit well with Cuban. “Adam definitely whiffed on this one,” he admitted on X. “But I can tell you that, unless a lot has changed in the last 20 months, he is one of the people standing up for fans in a room where a lot of owners are not.”Cuban pointed out that the collapse of regional sports networks has forced teams to rethink how they deliver games. “Since local TV broadcasts have imploded, most teams are offering free local broadcasts. So fans can see their team except on the national exclusives,” he added.When pressed on why the NBA can’t just roll out a single central app for all games, Cuban gave fans a reality check. “Because the streamers are competing for subscribers,” he replied. Using a breakdown of costs, he explained how platforms invest billions in NBA rights because games guarantee viewership in a way scripted programming rarely does.“Peacock paid 100m to the NFL for 1 playoff gm and got like 2.3m new subs and kept 70pct of them,” Cuban noted. “Will the NBA work as well per dollar? That will determine the future of streaming and the NBA.”“All of which is why , they can't just do a central app. There is too much money that streamers are willing to invest to get and retain subs,” he continued, adding, “Fortunately, a lot of NBA teams still have local free broadcasts for games that are not national exclusives.”Also Read: “This is cowardly” – Former LeBron James' teammate condemns Adam Silver-backed new rule for 2025 NBA seasonRegardless, the rising cost of watching NBA games has been a huge concern and fans are still waiting for an affordable solution.