The NHL expanded into Las Vegas and the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Finals during their inaugural 2017/18 season. The league will add a team in Seattle for the 2021/22 season.
Those two cities have also been prominently mentioned for NBA franchises. Despite the success of the Las Vegas Summer League and the feeling among many that Seattle didn’t deserve to lose the SuperSonics, there is no movement afoot regarding NBA expansion into those cities or anywhere else.
Commissioner Adam Silver said as much in Vegas on Thursday.
“There’s no doubt there are a number of cities in the United States that could host NBA basketball, but we analogize it to selling equity,” he said. “I think we would want to make sure at the time we expanded we felt it would help grow the entire league and not just support the NBA in that particular city.”
Since New Orleans got an NBA franchise in 2002, expansion has grinded to a halt. There are plenty of places that could support an NBA team, including cities that previously hosted a franchise, such as Kansas City, San Diego, St. Louis and Buffalo. Vancouver, former home of the Grizzlies, and Montreal would be worthy of consideration as well as other foreign cities such as Mexico City and London.
That leads us to our question of the day: When the NBA decides to expand again, which city is most worthy of a franchise?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Las Vegas seems to have a lot of momentum right now and a number of new venues.
Tampa Bay? Hawaii? St. Louis?
Tampa Bay? You know people don’t go to Rays games even when its free right?
Not true, they actually got 60k for their 3 game series against the O’s. Half those seats were sold for $2 though LOL
Tampa Bay’s team is the Orlando Magic
Seattle. Pretty simple. But I also think Phoenix really deserves an NBA team.
I see what you did there ^
LOL, Chicago too
30 is perfect. They can always put the Grizz in Seattle.
Kansas City! We have the sprint center! We have the means to have a team
You can have the Kings back
Personally, I think there are too many teams in California. Kings would make sense in Seattle or in KC/St Louis
You are aware that the Kings signed a lease that commits them to be in Sacramento until 2051.
Louisville! Nowhere does basketball better than KY!
But the dumb city officials gave U of L scheduling rights for the arena for 25 years. No NBA team would play second fiddle to a college team
Mexico would be cool but is such a bad idea!
Not as bad as London. That would be hard enough in the NFL with one game per week, let alone the NBA with around 3.
International teams (outside Canada) would never work. They won’t be able to land free agents without overpaying bad. Espically in the NBA where every team can offer the same amount to a star.
There are a lot of European players in the NBA, a few of them may want to play closer to home. You never know. It’s not like football where every single player is American and it would be near impossible to get players to want to go.
I think the product is too watered down as it is. That said, I’m all for economic opportunity in viable markets. Unfortunately the league would need to add a team in each Division to make it work. I’ve always felt the Midwest was undervalued as a NBA region. St. Louis, Kansas City would be viable markets. I also believe Baltimore and Seattle are on the list as well. Tampa likes inside sports cause of heat and humidity. Ownership options are the deterant in Tampa. Even though the gambling stigma is dissipating, I’m fine with Vegas not having a team. The summer league is perfect Vegas.
San Jose has more people and money than anyone, but people think 50 miles from SF = SF so they are routinely ignored as a pro sports town, despite showing up and being good fans for Sharks and Quakes games.
Seattle and Vega would be the top options.
Kansas City and Louisville would be the second tier. The third tier would probably see Baltimore, Virginia, and another team somewhere in Canada
How about Mexico City?
Lose Vegas.
Double-up cities to sell more season tickets. Seattle/Vancouver, StLouis/KansasCity. 20, 21 home games each site.
Cripes. Take their money, NBA, don’t be ridiculous.
Now that’s a good option, doubling up Seattle/Vancouver is realistic and makes sense. Memphis and Nashville would make sense to me as well!
Lose Vegas? Nonsense, Vegas is a better choice than any of those cities.
Vegas is a small market and they steal water.
San Diego, San Juan & Seattle all 3 should be the frontrunners.
The San Diego franchisee should be forced to sign a NEVER LA rider so they stay there!
Dana: “Since New Orleans got an NBA franchise in 2002, expansion has grinded to a halt. ” – Grinded? Yikes!
The NBA should add two more teams now for a total of 32. The league is at all-time high of popularity, and there are probably plenty of interested investors out there.
Now that OKC is in full rebuild mode, they should move back to Seattle.