Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver gave a rare interview to Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune this week.

"From a revenue standpoint, things are great," said Silver. "We generate more than $4 billion a year, and growing, on a global basis. This season, (TV) ratings were up double-digits on all our networks. We’re seeing the same growth for local television rights. The Lakers just entered into a fantastic new television deal for the next 20 years. Global (marketing) expansion is terrific. Merchandising sales are going well.

"We’re spending too much on (player) salaries, though, and under our current CBA, we pay roughly 57 percent of gross (income) to our players. At our meeting during All-Star weekend, we told them prospects are wonderful, but the model is broken, and no business is sustainable over time that pays out more than it takes in. By definition, if we pay out 57 percent of the gross, it has to cost us less than 43 cents to generate every dollar, and that’s not the case."

Silver explains that the expenses of the NBA have increased and that there is greater competition in the entertainment landscape.

"Our expenses are up across the board. When I first came to the league 19 years ago, virtually every team had a waiting list for season tickets. The world has changed. There’s a ton more competition now for the entertainment dollar. In every one of our cities, there are a thousand-plus channels on most cable networks and unlimited amounts of programming on the Internet, and we’re competing against those things. The cost of marketing and selling are that much greater."