NBA Considering Three International Cities for Expansion Team
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has consistently had plenty to say about the league’s potential future expansion. And during a recent game in Mexico City late last week between the Magic and Hawks, Silver offered up some interesting insight.
While discussing future NBA expansion, he was asked numerous times about the idea of a franchise in Mexico City. The NBA commissioner opened things up by praising the enormous opportunity in Mexico City, per NBA.com.
“We think there’s an enormous opportunity to continue growing the game of basketball here in Mexico City and throughout the country,” Silver said in his opening remarks. “And we also see this as a gateway essentially to the rest of Latin America.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver discussed potential international expansion during a recent game in Mexico City.
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports
Although Silver did note that the NBA is “not in expansion mode at the moment,” he continued to keep the door wide open as well, calling a move to Mexico City “very doable.”
But that was just the start of the chatter about future expansion, with the next round including two potential other options—Vancouver and Montreal.
Silver joined the broadcast for Monday’s game between the Knicks and Celtics, and once again opened the door to more possibilities of expansion. He cited “ongoing interest” in Vancouver and the fact that there’s “interest from Montreal,” per Sportsnet.ca.
”That’s become a great basketball market,” he said. “I will say the Toronto Raptors have done a good job … of making themselves Canada’s team. I know there’s interest from Montreal. There’s still ongoing interest in Vancouver.”
Time will tell, but it’s safe to say that any future NBA expansion will involve the cities of Seattle and Las Vegas speaking up loudly.
