Adam Silver opens up on NBA expansion, All-Star Game changes
Adam Silver revealed that the NBA expansion will include two more teams and that Mexico is one of the target cities for a franchise to be added. The NBA Commissioner also admitted that the current All-Star Game format will change in order to become more competitive.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explained this Saturday that when the league’s long-awaited expansion occurs, it will most likely be from 30 to 32 teams. This means that 16 franchises will be distributed among the two conferences.
“The most logical thing would be to do it with two teams, otherwise we would have to make adjustments for having odd numbers,” Silver said.
“It is also possible to do it with odd numbers, but we would like to do it with two teams and not one,” he explained at the press conference prior to the game between the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards.
Among the cities seeking to be added to the NBA lineup are Seattle and Las Vegas, which are reported to be at an advanced stage of negotiations with the league. The same goes for Mexico City, which is said to be a dream for the commissioner.
“I know that there are groups in Mexico with the financial capacity to operate the team. I have had informal conversations with some interested parties, but there is still no date for the expansion in the country,” Silver clarified.
The Mexico City Capitanes have been part of the G-League since 2021, when they became the first team outside the United States and Canada to join the world’s top basketball league. The goal is for the club to serve as a test lab to confirm Mexico City as an entity logistically ready to host an NBA franchise in the near future.
“The Capitanes’ experience has been a success, it has managed to generate great experiences for fans in the arena and the numbers improve every year,” added Silver, who also did not rule out the country as a future venue for an All Star Weekend.
“There is a long list of cities competing to host the All-Star Games each year, but I think if we want to get the All-Star Game out of the United States. Of course, Toronto (Canada) and Mexico would be at the top of the list,” he confirmed.
Regarding the criticism that the format of last year’s All-Star Game received, Silver admitted that “everyone is disappointed” and that there are likely to be changes for the 2025 event, which will be held in February 2025.
“It won’t be a traditional game format, we want to make it more competitive,” he revealed.
“The All-Star Games should be an opportunity for players to showcase their talent to the world,” Silver stressed.
