NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently addressed the growing interest from Vancouver and Montreal, along with Mexico City, in acquiring NBA franchises.
During an appearance on The Raptors Show, Silver clarified the context of his previous comments. He stated, “There are no active expansion discussions going on at the league right now. What I also said in that interview is that the Raptors have done a great job of becoming Canada’s team.”
Acknowledging the success of the Toronto Raptors in fostering Canadian fan interest, Silver noted, “It’s amazing what’s happened in terms of NBA basketball over the course of the existence of that franchise to the point now where outside the United States, the largest number of players come from Canada.”
When asked about the interest from Vancouver and Montreal, Silver affirmed, “We have heard from other markets, including Vancouver and Montreal, about their desire to have a team.”
He hinted at a potential future expansion, saying, “I think at some point, the league will turn back to expansion, but it’s not an active discussion we’re having right now.”
While emphasizing the current absence of active expansion talks, Silver expressed optimism about the NBA’s growth, stating, “Having said that, this is what I was referencing the other night. We have heard from other markets, including Vancouver and Montreal, about their desire to have a team.”
As the NBA is set to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas in the near future, Silver’s comments suggest that further expansion, including potential franchises in Vancouver and Montreal, could be on the horizon in the coming years.
