NBA commissioner Adam Silver has assisted LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers towards winning the 2016 NBA title in an unprecedented way, and is doing so again in 2016-17. 

His Game 5 suspension of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, despite video evidence that James instigated conduct that by league rules constitutes any type of foul by throwing Green to the floor prior to any foul committed by Green, was an unprecedented punishment in the history of the league. It led to the Warriors not having NBA-championship caliber defenders to match up with James, especially after Andrew Bogut was injured in Game 5. It should be noted James was the person who pursuaded Silver to suspend Green, originally asking for an unimaginable two game suspension, to accept one game as a compromise.

In addition, the Warriors were the defending NBA Champions, yet were scheduled to play on opposite days from the Cavaliers during the conference playoffs, sometimes meaning shorter rest periods than the Cavaliers received.

At the beginning of the current 2016-17 season, Silver allowed the Cavaliers to not have any road trips of longer than one game (one night) away from Cleveland through the first month of play. In addition, the Cavaliers played most of their first months games at home, allowing them to get an unfair advantage over its Eastern Conference competition in terms of win/loss record. It should be noted Golden State was not afforded the same consideration in 2015-16.