Adam Silver On NBA Expansion: ‘This Is The Summer We’re Going To Look At It Seriously’

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show this week, Silver reiterated what’s been hinted at for years: the NBA is inching closer to growing beyond its current 30 teams. Still, don’t expect any ground-breaking ceremonies just yet.

“The reason I say it’s not obvious is because as a global business … adding another U.S. city, it’s unclear how much growth we’ll get as a result of that,” Silver said.

He cited the league’s already-massive international footprint, noting that over a billion people globally consume some form of NBA content each year.

That kind of reach — two billion interacting on social media, by his estimate — makes domestic expansion feel less urgent, at least through a business lens.

Silver also acknowledged a commonly voiced concern: expansion would dilute the league’s talent pool. Thirty-two teams means two more rosters, which means more revenue-sharing and fewer stars per team.

Still, the door is wide open.

“Having said that,” Silver added, “I do believe certain markets can potentially be additive to the NBA, and that’s what we’re going to look at.”

Seattle remains the most often-mentioned city in league circles, though Silver did not name it specifically. He did nod to the league’s interest in broader geography, hinting at Canada and Mexico City as areas of intrigue. The NBA has previously held games in both Vancouver and Mexico City.

For now, Silver says no formal talks have taken place with ownership groups from any particular cities. But that could change quickly.

“I don’t mean to tease people with this,” he said. “This is the summer we’re going to look at it seriously.”

The topic is expected to take center stage during the Board of Governors meetings in July.

So, for those wondering when the NBA will grow … well, stay tuned. Expansion may not be right around the corner, but it’s at least on the block.

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