NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed expansion during a press conference at the 2025 Summer League in Las Vegas, describing the process as “complicated” and still in its earliest stages.
Silver confirmed that the league office has been tasked with conducting a thorough analysis of both economic and non-economic factors before any decisions are made about adding new teams. He stressed that no timeline or price point has been set.
“This is truly day one of that analysis,” Silver said. “We have to evaluate the value of expansion, what it means to dilute existing equity, and how additive it could be to the league overall.”
According to Silver, the NBA Board of Governors agreed there was no immediate vote or even informal poll on expansion. Instead, there was consensus to let the league office study the impact and report back.
Silver highlighted several key concerns, including talent dilution, competitive balance, and how new teams would be stocked. He also emphasized the importance of understanding local and regional television challenges before awarding a franchise to any market.
“The one area where we’re seeing a decline is in local regional television,” Silver explained. “It wouldn’t make sense to hand over a team and tell a city to figure out how to reach their local fans without a solid plan in place.”
While cities like Seattle and Las Vegas remain top candidates, Silver noted that the league must also evaluate market opportunities, arena facilities, and local business interest before moving forward.
He pointed out that projecting the NBA’s future growth, especially after signing a $76 billion national media rights deal, is central to any expansion discussion.
Several owners have reportedly expressed caution, preferring to see how the new broadcast contracts play out next year before considering additional franchises.
Silver reiterated that while expansion is not off the table, the league has an obligation to pursue it “in a very deliberate fashion.”
