LONDON — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he's not worried All-Star Weekend will be a bust next month in Brooklyn and Manhattan because the two locals teams are experiencing dreadful seasons, particularly the 5-36 Knicks.
In fact, Silver gave Knicks president Phil Jackson a vote of confidence months after he poked fun at his triangle offense. Jackson appeared insulted and said he "was not humored'' by Silver's geometry commentary.
The Knicks are on a 16-game losing streak and the Nets, who host the preliminary events, are on a seven-game slide.
"In terms of All-Star [festivities] being in New York involving both teams, it's the ebb and flow of the season,'' Silver said before the Knicks were routed by the Bucks. "It's unpredictable. I think I know that as a New Yorker, I don't think interest in people's favorite teams wanes necessarily because the team isn't successful in a particular year. So I expect tremendous excitement around the game and the festivities in New York. Certainly based on the number of requests I'm getting for tickets, there's no lack of interest in New York. ''
That the Lakers and Knicks — two marquee, big-market teams — are in the tank is not worrisome either, according to Silver.
"Not a concern at all,'' Silver said. "What we want to have is a league of 30 teams that can all compete on the floor for championships and be economically sustainable. We're not looking for a league where particular markets, because they have the ability to generate more revenue in those markets, have a competitive advantage."
Silver cited the Bucks, who had 16 wins last season, as a team that turned it around quickly because of good decisions, and said the Knicks could turn it around, too.
"So with strong management, and I believe that's what the Knicks have, they have a brand-new general manager in Phil Jackson and a brand-new coach in Derek Fisher,'' Silver said. "It takes time, though. It's very difficult to win in this league, and there's no magic formula for doing it, and that includes spending money.
"But their fans are loyal. I think, and I'm sure as you'll see in the arena tonight, there will be a lot of Knicks jerseys on those fans.''
The Knicks now have enough bodies to force Fisher into having to deactivate a player for the first time all season. Thursday he chose rookie Cleanthony Early. Fisher wanted to take a look at the new 10-day guys forwards Lance Thomas (seven points, four rebounds in 18 minutes) and Lou Amundson (16 minutes, six points in 17 minutes).
Point guard Shane Larkin suffered a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter and didn't return.
Fisher said Andrea Bargani could get better treatment on his calf strain staying at home than making the London trip. There is still speculation Bargnani not making the trip was evidence the Knicks have given up on him already and are considering buying him out if they can't trade him by the deadline.
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