NBA season's scoring surge doesn't worry Silver

WASHINGTON – NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday (Sunday Manila time) he is not worried about a league scoring surge this season, crediting a growing global talent pool for the superior point production.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the NBA All-Star Game, Silver said scoring was only about one point per game high than last season.

There have been 15 50-point games by NBA players so far this season and six performances of 60 or more with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scoring 70 and Dallas guard Luka Doncic striking for 73.

There were 25 50-point NBA games last season, the most since the 1962-63 campaign.

"There's a lot happening here," Silver said. "The skill level is off the charts. What we're seeing is now in this league every player in every position has to be able to shoot the basketball.

"You're seeing this global pool of talent coming into the league, some of the best athletes in the world, and frankly just shoot the lights out and I think that's what is responsible for the increased scoring."

Silver said the NBA has not staked out a position that higher scoring is better for the league.

"I want to dispel any notion the league feels that high-scoring games in the abstract are good," Silver said. "What we want are competitive games.

"I disagree with the people who feel teams aren't playing defense. The defensive intensity is there. Players are being asked to cover much larger areas of the court than they were asked to historically.

"I actually am pleased with the state of the game."

Silver addressed the concerns of some coaches who feel NBA rule changes have favored scoring punch by limiting what players can do defensively.

"In part, that has been very intentional," Silver said. "There was a period of time in this league when people thought the game had become too physical and we had taken away some of the aesthetic beauty from the game."

Silver said he will continue to listen to coaches and players and the league competition committee.

"Fans like to see players have that (scoring) ability to use these extraordinary talents," Silver said. "They like defensive intensity and they want players to be able to play physical defense,