Los HERMANOS que ENGAÑARON a la NBA | El mayor NEGOCIO de la HISTORIA

Overview / Core Claim

The video argues that the NBA’s biggest “financial mistake” benefited a team that never actually played in the league. Its central focus is on the Saint Louis Spirits, owned by brothers Osi Silna and Daniel Silna.

The Saint Louis Spirits: Origin and Goals

• The Spirits franchise originated in the ABA, initially as the Houston Mavericks, and later became the Spirits of Saint Louis.
• The Silna brothers wanted to reach the NBA.
• Their belief was that the ABA would be absorbed as its financial instability increased.

Struggles in the ABA

• The Spirits struggled throughout their time in the ABA.
• They never managed to reach an ABA championship despite having notable talent.
• The video points to players such as:
  • Marvin Barnes (with suggestions of major off-court problems)
  • Others who later found success in the NBA.

The ABA–NBA Merger and Exclusion

As the ABA–NBA merger approached, the NBA limited entry to only four franchises:

• Denver Nuggets
• New York Nets
• San Antonio Spurs
• Indiana Pacers

The Spirits were excluded, with the video attributing part of the outcome to factors affecting which teams could survive the merger, such as:

• The Virginia Squires’ bankruptcy
• The Kentucky Colonels’ near-compensation situation

The “Financial Mistake”: Television Revenue Deal

Even though the Spirits were left out, the video claims they secured an unusually favorable financial arrangement related to television revenue:

• A perpetual entitlement equal to one-seventh of the television earnings tied to the four NBA franchises.

The argument is that, at the time (mid-to-late 1970s), basketball’s national TV coverage was limited, making the deal seem reasonable. Over time, the video claims, basketball’s television value skyrocketed.

Why the Deal Became Massive

The video argues that later growth in television networks and the rise of global stars dramatically increased basketball’s value, turning the “small” long-term revenue share into immense profit.

It cites major stars such as:

• Magic Johnson
• Larry Bird
• Michael Jordan

Reported Earnings and the Scale of Profit

The video further claims that by the mid-2000s and beyond, the brothers’ earnings became extremely large, including figures such as:

• $180 million by 2007
• $300 million in 2014

It also claims total profits could approach or exceed $1 billion, despite the Spirits never playing an NBA game.

The NBA’s Attempt to Fix It

The video states that the NBA later tried—through lawyers and then-commissioner David Stern—to buy out or otherwise break the arrangement.

It suggests the brothers were offered millions to end the contract.

• Daniel Silna died in 2016 at age 83.

Overall Lesson Framed by the Video

Overall, the piece presents the situation as a cautionary tale: a merger-related oversight that later produced an enormous recurring payout, and an NBA attempt to correct it only after league TV revenues exploded.

Presenters or Contributors

• No specific on-screen presenter names were provided in the subtitles.
  • The narrator/host speaks directly, but no identity is given.
• ESPN is referenced as the source for an episode of the “30 for 30” documentary series.

Mentioned People and Figures

• Osi Silna
• Daniel Silna
• David Stern
• Bob Costas
• Players:
  • Maurice Lucas
  • “Monstro Malone” (likely Moses Malone)
  • Marvin Barnes
• League stars:
  • Magic Johnson
  • Larry Bird
  • Michael Jordan