NBA expansion talk has heated up again, especially following the earth-shattering $10 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers, a figure that stunned the basketball world and injected fresh urgency into adding new franchises. But if there’s one man seemingly standing in the way of that future, according to veteran NBA analyst Bill Simmons, it’s none other than New York Knicks owner James Dolan.
On The Bill Simmons Podcast, during a conversation with Chris Mannix, the two discussed the inevitability of NBA expansion and the surprising resistance it’s facing.
Chris Mannix: “We’re going to get two expansion teams probably in the next three years. I think the NBA is going to step on the gas with the expansion now that the Lakers sold for ten billion dollars.”
Bill Simmons: “You know who’s roadblocking them right now? James Dolan. He’s got a little cabal of anti-expansion owners just because doesn’t want it. He doesn’t want to share the media rights.”
Chris Mannix: “James Dolan doesn’t want to share anything. He votes no at every single Board of Governors meeting. Go back and look at some of these meetings, like, how many of them are twenty-nine to one?”
That statement sent a ripple through NBA media circles. While Dolan has long been a controversial figure among fans, Simmons’ revelation pulls the curtain back on what may be happening behind closed doors at NBA Board of Governors meetings.
According to both Simmons and Mannix, Dolan has been a consistent “no” vote on major league initiatives, including past budgets and revenue-sharing proposals, and frequently sends representatives instead of attending meetings himself.
This aligns with Dolan’s recent track record. In September 2024, he sent a letter to the league vehemently opposing the NBA’s new $76 billion media rights agreement, citing what he claimed was an “unfair distribution” of revenue that hurt larger-market teams like the Knicks.
He’s also gone on record criticizing how local TV partners are being pushed aside in favor of consolidated national media deals. And now, according to Simmons, Dolan fears expansion would further dilute the pot.
Adding two new franchises, widely expected to be the resurrection of the Seattle SuperSonics and a new Las Vegas team, would bring more revenue upfront via expansion fees.
But it would also mean dividing media rights, merchandise, and sponsorship revenue among 32 instead of 30 teams. That’s something Dolan, reportedly worth over $2 billion and fiercely protective of his franchise’s financial clout, wants no part of.
Despite Dolan’s resistance, momentum for expansion is growing. Reports from ESPN and The Athletic indicate that many owners see expansion as a one-time financial windfall, potentially up to $400 million per franchise, and an inevitable step given the NBA’s global growth and increasing team valuations.
Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly acknowledged discussions are ongoing, though he’s stopped short of confirming a timeline.
Still, Dolan’s resistance is a reminder that expansion, like everything in the NBA, isn’t just about fans and basketball. It’s a boardroom battle over power, revenue, and control. And if Simmons is right, one man in New York may be the reason Seattle and Las Vegas are still waiting.
Whether Dolan’s influence holds or the owners override him, one thing is clear, the fight for NBA expansion isn’t just about growing the game. It’s about who gets a piece of the pie. And James Dolan, as always, doesn’t want to share his slice.
