Silver: Hack-a-Shaq strategy up over 500 percent from last season

The strategy of intentionally fouling poor free-throw shooters, colloquially known as Hack-a-Shaq, is quickly becoming one of the biggest blights on the league.

Commissioner Adam Silver revealed in his State of the Union address prior to All-Star festivities on Saturday that teams are committing intentional fouls over 500 percent more this season than in 2014-15.

"So far, up to the All-Star break, we're seeing the Hack-a-Shaq strategy used at a roughly 5 1/2 (times) greater rate than it was used last season," Silver said.

That being said, Silver also reiterated that changes will not be made this season. Any moves towards curbing Hack-a-Shaq will likely take place in the summer, Silver said.

Silver himself, however, has started to sway in his stance on the ruling. He said last summer that he wasn't in favor of changing the rule, but he's received feedback urging him otherwise.

"I'm beginning to feel that a change need to be made. That comes in response to conversations with our network partners, that comes in response to fan data ... I'm talking to players, general managers, and our owners of course," Silver said.

The one snag, at the moment, is that there doesn't appear to be a consensus in terms of a solution.

"There's doesn't appear to be any clear consensus as to what the new rule to be. I think it's my job right now to at least formulate an alternative, together with the competition committee, to ultimately bring to our board of governors," Silver added.

A two-thirds vote (at least 20 teams) would have to vote in favor of any proposal to enact a rule change.