Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media earlier than recreation one between the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Indiana Pacers within the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photos Commissioner Adam Silver provided hope to cities seeking to land an NBA franchise, saying Thursday that the league “ought to be exploring” growth.
Silver addressed the media in his annual state-of-the-league speak forward of Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the host Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Concerning the addition of groups, Silver mentioned, “I do not assume it is computerized, as a result of it depends upon your perspective on the way forward for the league. As I’ve mentioned earlier than, growth in a means is promoting fairness within the league. In the event you consider within the league, you do not essentially wish to add companions.
“Then again, we acknowledge there are underserved markets in the USA and elsewhere — I believe markets that should have NBA groups. Most likely even when we have been to increase, greater than we are able to serve.”
When it comes to potential growth places, Silver mentioned, “There’s been no lack of curiosity. I primarily have mentioned to individuals from a number of totally different cities, ‘We’re simply not partaking in that course of proper now.’
“I wish to be truthful to everybody. So I do not wish to have conferences with some and never others. So if we have been to say sure, we’re now going to maneuver right into a extra formal exploratory part. We’d take these conferences, and as well as probably we’d interact with outdoors advisers who would take a look at markets, take a look at financial alternatives and media alternatives, and so forth.”
The NBA hasn’t expanded for the reason that then-Charlotte Bobcats joined forward of the 2004-05 season. Las Vegas and Seattle are extensively seen as the highest targets for future groups, with Mexico Metropolis probably within the combine, too.
Silver addressed a number of different subjects:
–Whereas a spate of regular-season accidents prompted hypothesis in regards to the NBA reducing down the 82-game common season, Silver dismissed the notion of a lighter schedule.
“Cash’s a part of it, there is not any query about it,” Silver mentioned. “We’re a enterprise. Having mentioned that, I do not actually see the profit to lowering the variety of video games. Folks used to say it’s best to scale back the variety of video games as a result of it’s going to result in a discount in a lot of accidents. We’ve completely no knowledge to recommend that. …
“Accidents are thought-about down this playoffs from what has been traditionally our second-lowest in 10 years. So we now have fairly wholesome groups coming into the Finals now.”
–After the success of the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA is prone to swap to nationality-based format for the 2026 All-Star Recreation in Inglewood, Calif.
“I do not assume a straight-up USA versus World is sensible,” Silver mentioned. “That is not what they did within the NHL, both. There in all probability might be some totally different groups we kind.”
Noting that the 2026 recreation might be performed amid the Winter Olympics in Italy, Silver mentioned, “I believe we are able to play off that nationalism. … I believe there’s an actual alternative to create enhanced curiosity and enhanced competitors from the gamers.”
–Silver lauded the truth that the NBA is about to crown its seventh totally different champion in seven years.
“We got down to create a system that allowed for extra competitors across the league, the aim being to have 30 groups all ready, if well-managed, to be competing for championships,” he mentioned. “And that is what we’re seeing right here. …
“The aim is not essentially to have a unique champion yearly. It is to have, as we mentioned earlier than, parity of alternative.”
–Area Degree Media
