With the NBA increasingly likely to give consideration to its first expansion in two decades in the near future, a pair of major cities are expected to be at the front of the line.
Per commissioner Adam Silver, Las Vegas and Seattle will be among markets explored if the league decides to grow upon the completion of its next media rights deal.
“We will turn to expansion once those new media deals are done,” Silver said Monday, speaking to reporters at the Associated Press Sports Editors conference in Las Vegas. “It’s not a sure thing but, as I’ve said before, I think it’s natural that organizations grow over time.”
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The NBA most recently expanded for the 2005 season, when the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) came into existence.
“We will look at [Las Vegas],” Silver said. “There’s no doubt there’s enormous interest in Seattle. That’s not a secret. There are other markets that have indicated interest. For the people who hear or read about this interview, we are not engaged in that process now. We’re not taking meetings right now with any potential groups.”
Las Vegas has never had an NBA team, but did host the All-Star Game in 2007. Seattle was home to the SuperSonics, who relocated to Oklahoma City and became today’s Thunder, from 1968 to ’08.
The league's current media rights contract ends after the 2025 season.
