NBA commissioner says league moved away from the term ‘owner’

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Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, said in an interview published Monday that the league has moved away from the term “owner” and said they are now referred to as governors.

Silver was stopped in New York by TMZ and said he is “sensitive” to the term owner. TMZ reported earlier that few NBA teams have dropped the term because of its racial component and since most of the players in the league are black.

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“You shouldn’t say owner,” Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said on HBO last year.

Silver pointed to the Green interview and said that he “completely respects” his opinion on the matter.

He did say that some players took pride when Michael Jordan was able to call himself an owner and said players have generally gone “both ways” on the issue.

TMZ Sports initially reported that the league was having discussions over nixing the term because of its racial connotations.

A quick glance at each team’s staff directories listed on their official websites showed about 15 organizations do not list an owner.

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The Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz list some kind of variation of chairman, managing partner, chief executive officer or governor.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.