Adam Silver Says NBA Will Turn To Expansion After New CBA, New Media Rights Deal

[RealGM Wiretap]

With the NBA staging what has become an annual game in Mexico City, expansion has been a popular topic of conversation. A day or so after Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum talked about the possibility of adding new teams, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took his turn.

After years of saying expansion was a non-discussion for the NBA, Silver has said it's something the league is starting to look into. However, Silver cautioned putting a timeline on it.

"We want to get a new collective bargaining agreement, our media rights deals are up soon, so we need to renew those, as well, but then we will turn to expansion," Silver said.

Silver also said the NBA will seriously look at Mexico City when it's time to expand. Silver reiterated that there are challenges to adding a franchise outside of the United State but added that Mexico City is well set up to do so. As he has in the past, Silver remarked that Mexico City can be the NBA's gateway to further growth throughout Latin America.

Via Jeff Zillgitt/USA Today

[SkynMan]

It's a shame players won't want to play there due to lack of intelligence, common sense, and the fact basketball is treated as more of a lifestyle instead of a job in the modern NBA. U.S. media will echoe ignorance cause like Stephen A Smith said about the Raptors winning the Championship he: "doesn't want the trophy in Canada" ; "NBA finals should be in America damn it". Or ignorant Fox Sports media takes like "black American NBA players of problems playing in Canada because racism" lool. Honestly a prerequisite of joining the NBA should be a university/college or some kind of scholastic degree. Smdh

[Bobcat]

Yes I remember Stephen A Smith blurting that out on how he didn't want a Canadian team to win. Even though 90% of the players were American. No one called him out on that. He should be ashamed of himself. If it was an African country involved he would never of said that.

[donemilio21]

The argument that rich 20-30 year old Americans not wanting to live in Mexico City is absurd. The city has 6th most millionaires in North America, your money goes further when you are earning USD in the millions and has an elite night life. For the rich and young, perhaps only NY, LA and maybe Miami would be ahead.

[irish22022]

I think, for example, not speaking the native language is a bummer for a lot of 21 year old kids. I've been to Mexico city many times, and I definitely would not call the nightlife elite either. I mean, for what I'm looking for, it's great. But all the Texas teams, PHX, Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Toronto, Orlando, NOLA, all of those have very accessible clubby/nightlife scenes. And none of them will be playing more reggaeton that is in Spanish than rap music in English.

These guys can have a good time anywhere, a million dollars can do that. Same goes for finding beautiful women. But I'll bet the millionaires you're referring to in cdmx speak Spanish and live in boring ol' Roma Norte or whatever. Not to mention the fact that these kids might not want to eat the same food every time they leave the house. Cdmx is huge, but it isn't an international city. It's something like 85% Latino, and what, 1% black?? I know these guys stick out in some places in the US, but not speaking the language AND being the only black people? I dunno. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't wanna do it.

The argument that rich 20-30 year old Americans not wanting to live in Mexico City is absurd. The city has 6th most millionaires in North America, your money goes further when you are earning USD in the millions and has an elite night life. For the rich and young, perhaps only NY, LA and maybe Miami would be ahead.

[Psubs]

Vegas and Seattle should be 1st.

Should not expand into another country especially with their cartel issues. Or maybe just smuggle drugs on the daily flights on the private plans?

[elmdawgg69]

Tampa failed when the Raptors relocated during COVID.

Time to go back to Seattle and Vancouver.

I’d also consider Vegas, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

[thebuzzardman]

Water down the product some more. Great idea.

[kacey ring]

Tampa failed when the Raptors relocated during COVID.

Time to go back to Seattle and Vancouver.

I’d also consider Vegas, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

Let’s show Louisville some love too! Kentucky has been without professional basketball for way too long.

The state is tiring down on college bball. UL and UK don’t have the buzz anymore.

[Pickled Prunes]

Water down the product some more. Great idea.

There is 4x the talent in the NBA than there was 30 years ago. I'm not talking about "stars" because that's a combination of popularity and HOB. No team could really have more than three stars because even that third star loses it's shine when on the court with other stars. (Allen, Bosh, Love, etc.) No, I'm talking about depth. Players 8-15 are better than players 5-12. Expansion won't water anything down, it will give more playing time to people that can really play.

[basketballwacko2]

If I was an NBA player there is no way in this universe that I'd sign with Mexico City! I wouldn't even want to go there to play. Kidnapping is a major business in Mexico as the Drug Cartels use it to make money off the wealthy.

[basketballwacko2]

The argument that rich 20-30 year old Americans not wanting to live in Mexico City is absurd. The city has 6th most millionaires in North America, your money goes further when you are earning USD in the millions and has an elite night life. For the rich and young, perhaps only NY, LA and maybe Miami would be ahead.

Mexico is practically controlled by the drug cartels how fast do you think some NBA player's kid is gonna get kidnapped and ransomed? happens all the time to wealthy Mexicans.

[Pickled Prunes]

The argument that rich 20-30 year old Americans not wanting to live in Mexico City is absurd. The city has 6th most millionaires in North America, your money goes further when you are earning USD in the millions and has an elite night life. For the rich and young, perhaps only NY, LA and maybe Miami would be ahead.

Mexico is practically controlled by the drug cartels how fast do you think some NBA player's kid is gonna get kidnapped and ransomed? happens all the time to wealthy Mexicans.

The players could stay safe by remaining in their gated communities. They have beautiful neighborhoods with incredibly high standards of living. But that isn't the kind of life most Americans would choose. I don't think kidnapping would be the issue as much as the impossible task of signing marquee free agents that a team in MEX would face.

Another issue is that Mexico City is about a half-a-mile higher than the Mile High arena in Denver. That would make for some sloppy 4th quarters. I foresee some load management games for opposing team's veterans.

[irish22022]

The argument that rich 20-30 year old Americans not wanting to live in Mexico City is absurd. The city has 6th most millionaires in North America, your money goes further when you are earning USD in the millions and has an elite night life. For the rich and young, perhaps only NY, LA and maybe Miami would be ahead.

Mexico is practically controlled by the drug cartels how fast do you think some NBA player's kid is gonna get kidnapped and ransomed? happens all the time to wealthy Mexicans.

The players could stay safe by remaining in their gated communities. They have beautiful neighborhoods with incredibly high standards of living. But that isn't the kind of life most Americans would choose. I don't think kidnapping would be the issue as much as the impossible task of signing marquee free agents that a team in MEX would face.

Another issue is that Mexico City is about a half-a-mile higher than the Mile High arena in Denver. That would make for some sloppy 4th quarters. I foresee some load management games for opposing team's veterans.

Yes, there are practical things to think about like elevation and English being a second language, or fox news racist **** to think about like players getting kidnapped lol. Go to Mexico city, dude. You'll be surprised. The affluent neighborhoods will look a lot nicer and lot cleaner than wherever you live, I guarantee it.

[SuppaSlick]

It's a shame players won't want to play there due to lack of intelligence, common sense, and the fact basketball is treated as more of a lifestyle instead of a job in the modern NBA. U.S. media will echoe ignorance cause like Stephen A Smith said about the Raptors winning the Championship he: "doesn't want the trophy in Canada" ; "NBA finals should be in America damn it". Or ignorant Fox Sports media takes like "black American NBA players of problems playing in Canada because racism" lool. Honestly a prerequisite of joining the NBA should be a university/college or some kind of scholastic degree. Smdh

If you don't want to live in Mexico that is... ignorance?

If my field of expertise put me at top 2-3 percent in the world in that field then I'd live wherever I personally feel like lol. If your truly that good at what you do then you have options. Just like any other field out there

Calling someone ignorant because they speak English and would rather live in a primary English speaking country it's stupid. So is your suggestion that having a degree be required to put a ball in a hoop

[dan-man]

Mexico City? You can't consider putting an NBA team in a 3rd world market.

[TheCage4]

There are a number of US cities deserving of an NBA franchise before even considering Canada, let alone Mexico City. That is a fact, whether or not individuals want to realize that.

[Evil_Headband]

Expand to Seattle and Las Vegas. Switch the Grizzlies or Pelicans to the East.

[mafoutz]

Mexico City? You can't consider putting an NBA team in a 3rd world market.

Have you ever been to Mexico City? It’s a helluva lot nicer than Detroit…

[Pickled Prunes]

Mexico City? You can't consider putting an NBA team in a 3rd world market.

Dude... Mexico isn't 3rd World.