Dear Commissioner Silver, the NBA’s Orlando restart needs the Elam Ending

Full Q&A with Nick Elam

Hoops Habit: How did you feel after watching the NBA All-Star Game? Did it live up to your hopes?

Nick Elam: I had high expectations for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, and it exceeded my expectations. The lion’s share of the credit goes to the players – they played their hearts out. I do think that is part of the spirit of the Elam Ending: when you eliminate the electronic third party, it brings all the focus to the court. It’s just my team against your team. And whether it’s at the NBA All-Star Game or TBT: The Basketball Tournament, we continually see the intensity level (especially the defensive intensity level) rise during the untimed final stretch.

HH: Were you expecting that overwhelming of a majority of fans to support the Elam Ending?

Elam: I was very pleased with the reaction. First, in the arena itself as the game unfolded. The United Center was electric during the 4th quarter. After the game, I scrolled through Twitter, and I estimate that 90 percent of the feedback about the Elam Ending was positive. It’s hard to get 90 percent of the people on Twitter to speak positively about anything, so that is very encouraging. It’s cool to see the reactions of others when they see for the first time this format playing out, and them witnessing all that I have envisioned for so many years. The format definitely speaks for itself better than I can speak on its behalf.

HH: Would you like to see the NBA reintroduce the Elam Ending in Orlando?

Elam: Yes, but it’s not realistic. Implementation of the Elam Ending will require a great deal of discussion and buy-in from various stakeholders. I’m confident that will happen someday, but with the season resuming in a month, and with the league and teams focusing on safety and on preparing to compete for a championship, it seems unlikely there is enough time now for the necessary discussion and buy-in.

HH: Could you see the Elam Ending as an advantage for higher seeds in the first round?

Elam: I don’t see the Elam Ending as an advantage to either team before the start of a game. Technically, I don’t see the Elam Ending as an advantage to either team even when the untimed final stretch of the game begins. However, I do believe the Elam Ending delivers on its promise to eliminate the artificial disadvantages that a trailing team normally faces during the final stretch of a game (having to foul and hand away free points when on defense; having to rush and force up ugly shots when on offense). A trailing team is still at a disadvantage, but the deficit itself is the disadvantage – as it should be. The Elam Ending offers greater hope for a late comeback, but I believe the outcome is more satisfying under the Elam Ending, whether there’s a comeback or not because the final stretch includes a more natural style of play.

HH: Could you see an in-season trial run in Orlando being invaluable for the NBA in its assessment of how to future utilize the Elam Ending?

Elam: Implementing the Elam Ending in Orlando would be valuable, but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem realistic.

HH: Would it put an asterisk on the season if the NBA used the Elam Ending in the playoffs in any way?

Elam: No.

HH: How would you most like to see it be implemented?

Elam: I hope to eventually see the Elam Ending implemented at the highest levels of play – NBA, WNBA, NCAA Division I, and Olympics. The journey along the way will be fun, seeing the Elam Ending continue to be implemented at more and more other levels in the meantime.