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NBA Expansion Still Feels Inevitable, Just Not Imminent

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 1:53 PM ET

Don’t expect the NBA to go from 30 teams to 32 tomorrow. But don’t expect it to stay at 30 for much longer, either.

According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, the feeling around the league remains that expansion is going to happen. Just maybe not yet.

The NBA’s focus, Hollinger writes, is currently on its European league idea. That’s where more energy is being spent. Plus, with the league’s messy local TV situations still getting sorted out, owners may want to stabilize that front before adding two more teams.

“They want to get to yes,” a league source told Hollinger.

Hollinger added: “The league can always sell buyers on a team in Seattle later, but whenever it does, it needs to make sure it’s a win beyond the initial windfall of an expansion fee. In particular, figuring out the imploding local TV landscape is critical, given that two new teams would just dilute the league’s national TV contract for the other 30 owners.”

In other words, Seattle and Las Vegas fans might have to be patient. But not forever.

For the record, commissioner Adam Silver addressed the topic of expansion last week.

Speaking at his post–Board of Governors press conference, Silver emphasized that no decisions have been made and that extensive analysis still needs to take place before any next steps.

“A lot of analysis still needs to be done, and nothing’s been predetermined one way or another,” Silver said. “We’re going to be as thorough as possible and look at all the potential issues.”