By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Besides possible updates on the announced plans for an expansion to Europe, the NBA Board of Governors is set to discuss expansion cities in North America during the next meeting in July.
“Look, obviously, I know there’s tremendous interest in Seattle. I know there’s tremendous interest in Las Vegas and several other cities as well, whether I’ve read about the interest or have heard indirectly from others,” mentioned NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, “Just to be clear, we haven’t begun any sort of process. So even to the extent cities have reached out, we said, ‘Thank you for your interest, but we’re not ready to take meetings yet and have more in-depth discussions.’ We will have that opportunity early summer again to talk to all the different ownership groups in the NBA and get a sense.”
It would be the first formal discussion for an expansion of the league, presumably from 30 to 32 teams, following the latest collective bargaining agreement and media rights deal. From opening discussions, a next step would lead into a long process, before eventually approving the addition of new cities and teams.
Addressing the annual All-Star Game, Silver revealed intentions to talk about a schedule adjustment, in addition to considering a format setting a team with players from the United States against a Team World.
“We’re going to be in the midst of the Winter Olympics on NBC,” he explained, “So the programming going into the All-Star Game will be Olympic competition, and our game will be leading back into the Olympics. So I think it’s only fitting, and on top of that, we’ll be in L.A., where, of course, the ‘28 Summer Olympics are going to be. So that’s maybe more short-term, not so much a rule change, but something we talked about at the GM’s meeting and we want to get right.”
“Maybe there’s an opportunity to move that around to create interest at a different point in the season,” he added.