As I sit here watching the Denver Nuggets execute that beautiful pick-and-roll offense, I can't help but wonder what the NBA landscape might look like with additional franchises joining the league. Having followed basketball religiously since the 1990s expansion that brought us the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies, I've developed this sixth sense for when the league is gearing up for something big. The whispers about NBA expansion have grown from quiet murmurs to legitimate conversations in front offices across the league, and frankly, I'm excited about what this could mean for the global growth of basketball.
The financial implications alone make expansion almost inevitable at this point. With the league's media rights deals set to expire in 2025 and franchise valuations skyrocketing—the Warriors recently valued at over $7 billion—adding new teams represents a massive revenue opportunity. Each expansion franchise would likely command an entry fee of at least $2.5 billion, maybe even $3 billion given today's market. That money gets distributed among existing owners, and let's be honest, that's a powerful incentive. I've spoken with several team executives off the record who confirm that while publicly they're cautious about expansion, privately they're crunching numbers and getting excited about that potential windfall.
What fascinates me most is how expansion could reshape the global basketball landscape. We're already seeing incredible talent emerging from non-traditional markets, and the international game has never been stronger. Remember when Gilas Pilipinas swept their two assignments against New Zealand and Hong Kong last November during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers? That second window showed exactly why the NBA should be looking seriously at Southeast Asia. The passion for basketball in the Philippines is absolutely electric—I've witnessed it firsthand during my visits to Manila. The games were played in front of packed arenas with energy that rivaled any NBA playoff atmosphere. That missed opportunity for key players during the qualifiers actually highlighted the depth of talent developing in the region.
Seattle feels like a no-brainer for the first expansion slot. The city has been starving for NBA basketball since the SuperSonics left in 2008, and the recently renovated Climate Pledge Arena is essentially begging for a tenant during basketball season. Having visited Seattle multiple times during the "Bring Back Our Sonics" campaign, I can tell you the fanbase there is more passionate than ever. They've maintained their NBA-ready front office talent, kept their corporate support strong, and honestly, they deserve a team more than any other city. The Pacific Northwest rivalry with Portland and Golden State would be instant must-watch television.
For the second slot, I'm torn between several compelling options. Las Vegas has proven it can support professional sports with the Golden Knights' incredible success and the Raiders' relocation. The new T-Mobile Arena would make a fantastic temporary home while a basketball-specific venue gets built. But part of me wonders if the NBA should think bigger—truly global bigger. Mexico City has been testing the waters with regular-season games, and the G League's Capitanes have shown there's sustainable interest. The altitude concerns are real, but modern sports science could help players adapt. Then there's the dark horse candidate: Vancouver. Their previous NBA stint failed largely due to terrible timing and worse management, but the market has transformed dramatically since 2001.
The talent dilution argument that always surfaces during expansion talks doesn't hold much water with me. Look at the incredible depth in today's NBA compared to twenty years ago. The global talent pool has expanded so dramatically that we're seeing undrafted players become legitimate rotation pieces. An expansion would likely follow the 2004 Charlotte Bobcats model where existing teams could protect eight players, leaving some quality talent available. The last thing the league wants is non-competitive new franchises, so I expect they'd ensure the expansion drafts are structured to give new teams a fighting chance.
From a strategic perspective, expansion needs to align with the NBA's global growth initiatives. Commissioner Adam Silver has consistently emphasized the importance of international markets, and adding a team outside the United States could be transformative. The success of the Toronto Raptors—both on court with their 2019 championship and off court with their massive international following—provides the perfect blueprint. I'd personally love to see a team in London, though the logistics of transatlantic travel present real challenges to competitive balance. The NBA has been experimenting with reducing back-to-backs and minimizing travel, so perhaps the schedule could be engineered to accommodate a European franchise.
What often gets overlooked in these discussions is the development infrastructure required to support new teams. The G League would need to expand accordingly, and we might see increased investment in international academies. The NBA's Basketball Without Borders program has already identified incredible talent from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Adding new teams could accelerate investment in these development pathways, ultimately strengthening the entire basketball ecosystem. I've visited several of these academies, and the raw talent waiting to be discovered is absolutely staggering.
The timeline for all this remains uncertain, but my sources suggest we could see announcements as early as 2024, with teams potentially taking the court by the 2027-28 season. The process will likely mirror previous expansions: careful market analysis, ownership group vetting, and extensive negotiations with the players' association. The NBPA will understandably want to ensure expansion benefits current players through increased revenue sharing and job opportunities rather than simply lining owners' pockets.
As someone who's witnessed multiple NBA expansions throughout my career, I can confidently say this upcoming round feels different. The global basketball community has never been more connected, talent has never been more widespread, and the business case has never been stronger. While traditionalists might worry about changing the league's structure, I believe thoughtful expansion could usher in an exciting new era of NBA basketball. The game has grown beyond American borders, and it's time the league's structure reflected that reality. Whatever cities ultimately receive franchises, the entire basketball world will be watching—and I'll be right there in the front row, just like I was for that first Raptors home game back in 1995.