NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced during an APSE conference in Las Vegas on Monday that the league will carefully consider the potential addition of new teams in the coming years. While acknowledging the interest in expansion, Silver emphasized that the NBA’s current priority is to finalize the next media rights deal, which is set to expire after the 2024-2025 season. The commissioner stated that expansion discussions will follow the completion of the media deals, but nothing is guaranteed at this point.
Silver mentioned Las Vegas and Seattle as potential locations for new franchises, highlighting the considerable interest in Seattle, which was previously home to the Supersonics (1967-2008), who moved to Oklahoma City and rebranded as the Thunder, leaving a market with a fervent fan base but lacking an NBA quality arena. The recent opening of the state-of-the-art Climate Pledge Arena is rectified that problem.
With the exclusive negotiating period between the NBA and its current TV partners ending in April, there is limited time to focus on expanding the league. Silver is aiming to address administrative tasks first, allowing prospective team owners to have a clear understanding of the league’s business model before any expansion takes place.
Since the establishment of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) in 2004, the NBA has not expanded its number of teams. However, discussions about expanding the league have gained traction in recent years. Las Vegas, which already hosts the Summer League and will host the semifinals and finals of the new In-Season Tournament, is viewed as a favorable market by the league. Restoring an NBA team in Seattle, known for its basketball history, is also an appealing prospect.
