At 6 ' 3 '' , he 's tall enough to slam dunk , and supporters say that 's exactly what Adam Silver did when he announced a $ 2.5 million fine and banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life from the NBA . Silver , 52 , is just three months into his tenure as NBA commissioner , and the scandal over Sterling 's racist comments is the first major test he 's faced as the league 's leader . In an interview with CNN 's partner website Bleacher Report earlier this year , Silver described himself as a subdued basketball fan who was more likely to quietly observe than shout at the court . But he was anything but subdued on Tuesday , leaving no room for interpretation as he announced Sterling 's punishment and firmly declared that the Clippers owner 's views `` have no place in the NBA . '' From inside and outside the league , praise for Silver 's swift , decisive move came as fast as the condemnation of Sterling 's comments . `` Kudos to Adam Silver , '' Grantland editor-in-chief and sports commentator Bill Simmons said in a Twitter post . `` That was such an important moment for the NBA ( and for him , too ) and he handled it spectacularly . '' Silver is known within the league as a consensus builder , and he commanded respect in various roles with the organization over the past 22 years , according to Bleacher Report . One key part of his philosophy : Basketball is a team game . Growing up a diehard New York Knicks fan , he remembers watching players like Earl Monroe , Bill Bradley and Clyde Frazier play at Madison Square Garden . `` You thought about them as a team , '' Silver told Bleacher Report . `` There was no sense that any individual was greater than the team back then . '' Learning from great coaches and general managers over the years has reinforced that idea , he said . `` I believe I 've developed a true appreciation of the team concept and one that , sort of as the new commissioner-slash-CEO of this organization , I 'm really hoping to put into practice , '' he told Bleacher Report . Silver 's also known for favoring transparency . `` As deputy commissioner , he was a driving force behind the decision to publicly announce blown referee calls , '' Bleacher Report 's Howard Beck wrote . `` The NBA 's move to post videos explaining the league 's most misunderstood rules also stemmed from Silver 's advocacy . '' Silver grew up outside New York City and graduated from Duke University and the University of Chicago Law School . He told The New York Times earlier this year that he never imagined a career in professional basketball . `` I loved basketball , but I never dreamed about playing in the NBA or certainly working for the NBA , '' he told the newspaper . Silver worked as a law clerk and a corporate lawyer before his career took the unexpected turn . He joined the NBA in 1992 as a special assistant to then-Commissioner David Stern . From there , he served as the NBA 's chief of staff , senior vice president and chief operating officer of NBA Entertainment and president and chief operating officer of NBA Entertainment . He became the league 's second-in-command in July 2006 . Silver may have a background as a lawyer and a businessman , but underneath it all , friends say , he 's a basketball fan . `` He loves the game , '' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski , who has worked extensively with Silver , told Bleacher Report . `` People can know the game , like the game , but then there are those who love the game . ... He 's very proud of the game and his part in the game . He knows he 's part of something bigger than him . '' Silver has consulted with coaches about changes and made them feel included , Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle told Bleacher Report . `` It breeds a real trust with him coming into this as the main guy now , '' said Carlisle , president of the National Basketball Coaches Association . The youngest of five siblings , Silver never played basketball competitively but says he sometimes shot hoops on a basket mounted on the side of his house growing up . `` David Stern always says that 'Adam 's a facilitator , because he 's the youngest child , ' '' Silver told Bleacher Report . `` I think I 've always been the defender of whoever it is being yelled at , at that moment . '' What the ban means for Clippers ' finances .
The Donald Sterling controversy was Adam Silver 's first major test as NBA commissioner . Analyst : Silver handled the scandal over Sterling 's racist comments `` spectacularly '' A key part of Silver 's philosophy : No individual is greater than the team . Silver grew up as a New York Knicks fan and has worked for the NBA for 22 years .