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The settlement’s rapid conclusion seemed inevitable. The mere prospect of a lawsuit eliciting a discovery process involving personal communications and emails from involved parties was enough for all stakeholders—particularly the billionaire owners of the NBA—to want to avoid the fallout that could emerge from such disclosures.
The Impact of Media Relationships
Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, found himself at odds with Zasloff and the new Warner Discovery regime. Historical ties were severed as Zasloff rearranged the NBA's relations with Warner, leading to a critical loss for the network. As Silver noted, the importance of partnerships in sports broadcasting is paramount, and the tension between the two entities made this loss more damaging than anticipated.