Originally reported by The Athletic.
As the 2025 NBA Finals tipped off, Commissioner Adam Silver addressed one of basketball’s biggest strategic questions: Is league expansion inevitable? His answer — “I don’t think it’s automatic” — added nuance to what many assumed was a foregone conclusion.
Despite years of speculation around potential franchises in Seattle or Las Vegas, Silver emphasized that expanding the NBA from its current 30 teams remains a complex, cautious decision.
“Expansion, in a way, is selling equity in the league,” Silver said. “If you believe in the league, you don’t necessarily want to add partners. On the other hand, we recognize there are underserved markets in the U.S. and abroad.”
A Pivot to Europe?
Interestingly, Silver floated a European league under the NBA umbrella as a form of global expansion. While full-scale NBA Europe would be logistically ambitious, the league clearly sees opportunity in deepening its international footprint — both from a fan and revenue perspective.
Format Changes & Small-Market Success
Silver confirmed a return to a new All-Star format in 2025, this time embracing an international competitive structure. The event will air on NBC during a crossover broadcast with the Winter Olympics — part of a larger push to merge storytelling, spectacle, and sports on a global scale.
Silver also dismissed concerns that a small-market NBA Finals (like this year’s Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers matchup) is bad for business.
“We set out to create a system that allowed for more competition. The goal is parity of opportunity,” he said.
Indeed, the fact that seven different teams have won titles in the past seven seasons reflects a major evolution in league parity and competitive integrity — a deliberate outcome of the NBA’s latest CBA.
What This Means for Stakeholders
As consultants in the global sports ecosystem, we see the NBA’s positioning as a case study in strategic patience and platform optimization.
Whether you’re:
- An investor eyeing expansion or minority stakes
- A city or venue developer seeking to attract franchises
- A brand exploring international NBA tie-ins
- A league or federation seeking a similar expansion playbook
…this moment offers insight into how and why elite leagues grow — and when they choose not to.
At 365247 Consultancy, we help investors, leagues, governments, and brands:
- Evaluate the viability of sports expansion (domestic & global)
- Structure franchise bids or minority investment pathways
- Unlock commercial value in small markets
- Position for international rights, formats & fan growth
Book your introductory call here.
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IMAGE: AP
