Adam Silver Gets Real On NBA Expansion: “We’re Not Quite Ready”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke about the potential for an NBA expansion by revealing the league still isn't ready for it.

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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke to the media in a press conference after the NBA Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday in New York, where he was questioned over the possibility of a league expansion to 32 teams. This led to Silver’s candidly saying that the NBA still isn’t ready to accommodate two new teams immediately despite the possibility of an expansion receiving strong interest.

“There was not a lot of discussion in this meeting about expansion, but only largely because — not for lack of interest — it’s because we had said to [potential franchise suitors] that we’re not quite ready. It was something that we told our board we plan to address this season. We’re not quite ready yet. There’s interest in the process, and I think that we’re not there yet with having made specific decisions about markets or even frankly, to expand.”

Silver specifically spoke about the league having already existing relationships that need to be reworked after an expansion, naming Seattle as a specific example of a city showing strong interest in an NBA expansion.

“I think over time organizations should grow as appropriate. But it gets complicated in terms of selling equity in the league and what that means for the existing television relationships, et cetera. What we’ve told interested parties is: ‘Thank you for your interest, we’ll get back to you.’ That’s certainly the case in Seattle.”

“We’re always paying attention to what’s happening. In other arenas throughout the United States, when we do play games there, we look very closely at the support we get in those markets. I know we’re going to get tremendous support in that preseason game [in Seattle] again.”

The NBA just inked a new 11-year media rights deal earlier this offseason, which will start with the 2025-26 season. Given the nascent stages of this media deal, the league wouldn’t want to immediately try and add two new teams and offer more NBA games to their partners than previously agreed upon. 

Two new teams in opposing Conferences would add over 150 games to the already packed NBA schedule, for which the league will either have to renegotiate their brand new media deals or accommodate two new teams within the existing one. In addition, the league still has a long process to go to vet the market capability of whichever city wants to welcome an NBA team into their mix.

Seattle looks to be the most interested party in an NBA expansion, with the city losing its own NBA team in 2008 when the Seattle SuperSonics moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBA players like Kevin Durant have already shown an interest in becoming a team owner of a new Seattle-based franchise.

Another city widely expected to host an NBA team soon is Las Vegas, which has been the home of the NBA’s Summer League for over a decade. They also host the NBA Cup Final Four and currently house two-time NBA Champions, the Las Vegas Aces. LeBron James is widely expected to make a push for ownership of this franchise, potentially backed by the Fenway Sports Group who own the Boston Red Sox in the MLB.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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