The deal will still need to be approved by the league and the other owners, but it's worth noting Iger and NBA commissioner Adam Silver have known each other for years. The two worked closely over the years in negotiating the league's television rights deals with ESPN and were praised for their partnership in restarting the 2019-20 season with a "bubble" hosted on Disney properties in Orlando, Florida, after a four-month hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Bob and Adam are close," one league office source told ESPN. "They're not just business close. They're vacation-together close."
ESPN
