Speaking to reporters, Silver said that the NBA and its team owners will be exploring the idea but emphasized that expansion is not ‘automatic.’

He added that the matter will be on the agenda for the upcoming owners meeting in July, where he plans to “take the temperature of the room.”

Silver on the expansion

Silver’s comments come amid ongoing speculation about potential new NBA franchises, with cities like Seattle and Las Vegas frequently mentioned as top candidates.

However, the commissioner’s measured tone suggests that the league is proceeding with caution. “It isn’t automatic,” Silver said, indicating that any decision will require broad consensus among owners and careful consideration of the league’s long-term interests.

The NBA last expanded in 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets) joined the league. Since then, the league has grown in popularity and revenue, but Silver has consistently maintained that expansion would only happen if it made sense both competitively and financially.

Could an NBA expansion happen?

At the July owners meeting, Silver seems to intend to gauge the interest and concerns of team owners regarding expansion. “Take the temperature of the room” is how he described his approach, indicating that the league is in the early stages of any discussion rather than on the brink of an announcement.

Factors likely to influence the decision include the financial health of the league, the impact on competitive balance, and the readiness of potential markets to support a new franchise. The NBA will also need to consider the logistics of expanding the league’s schedule, playoff structure, and player pool.

For now, fans in cities hoping for an NBA team will have to remain patient. Silver’s remarks make it clear that while expansion is a topic of interest and will be formally discussed, there is no set timetable or guarantee that new teams will be added in the near future.