NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Discusses Expansion, Europe League Potential, and More Ahead of NBA Finals
In a wide-ranging news conference on Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed a wide variety of issues around the league ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. One of the first questions of the night was about NBA expansion, a topic that has been on Silver's mind for some time. Silver said that the league "should be exploring" expansion and that it would be on the agenda at the July owners' meeting in Las Vegas. He noted that committees within the league have already been discussing the possibility of expansion, but that the meeting would provide direction for the league office to continue exploring it. Silver also addressed the issue of unsolicited calls he has received from potential investors about expansion. However, he warned that despite interest from owners, expansion might not be a guarantee. "I don't think it's automatic, because it depends on your perspective on the future of the league," he said. "Expansion is in a way selling equity in the league, and if you believe in the league, you don't necessarily want to add partners." Silver added that expansion could also be an opportunity to expand outside the United States, mentioning the league's investment in NBA Africa and its potential creation of a league in Europe. "We think there's an opportunity to serve fans in Europe," he said. The issue of expansion has been a topic that Silver has had to field for some time. He has previously stated that the NBA wouldn't touch the issue until after the league's media rights deal was completed, which was done last July. If the owners want expansion, Silver said that the league would start a formal process to look into it. Seattle, which lost the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2007, has long been a favorite if the NBA chooses to expand. Las Vegas has also been mentioned as a potential option. In addition to talking about expansion, Silver also addressed other issues such as the perception of a small-market Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as the season schedule and whether the league would be willing to cut down on player workload by shortening the season. Silver said he didn't see much of a benefit to changing the NBA's current 82-game season and that there isn't any evidence or data pointing to increased injuries as a result of the lengthy schedule and postseason. Silver also spoke about the All-Star Game, which he said would be a version of a U.S. vs. World format. He added that the All-Star break will take place around the same time as the 2026 Winter Olympics and hopes it will help players get into a national spirit. Lastly, just before ending the news conference, Silver took a moment to "share my appreciation and gratitude to Turner sports," as TNT's partnership with the NBA came to an end last weekend. "They were our partners for 41 years, I was with the league for 33 of those 41 years," he said. "Their coverage has been fantastic, and it's not just the on-air talent." He wished well to all those who have worked on NBA production over the years and acknowledged their contributions since TNT went off the air last weekend.
