Commissioner Adam Silver just announced the NBA’s next big moves, from potential new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle to a reshaped Cup final and fresh European ambitions.
NBA Expansion Outlook
Silver said Tuesday that the league will make a decision on domestic expansion in the coming year, offering the most definitive timeline since the NBA began exploring the possibility of moving from 30 to 32 teams. “Not a secret, we’re looking at this market in Las Vegas. We are looking at Seattle,” he told reporters before the NBA Cup final between San Antonio and New York. He added that the league has also examined other markets but wants to be sensitive about teasing them.
The commissioner emphasized the appeal of the two cities. “I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities,” he said. “Obviously we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas in the Aces. I don’t have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team.”
Silver outlined the process: the NBA is working with its teams to gauge interest, assess economics on the ground, and develop a pro forma for each market. “We’re in the process of working with our teams and gauging the level of interest and having a better understanding of what the economics would be on the ground for those particular teams and what a pro forma would look like for them, and then sometime in 2026 we’ll make a determination,” he said.
Cup Finals Location and Viewership
During the pre‑game show on Amazon Prime Video for the NBA Cup final, Silver revealed that the title game might move away from Las Vegas. “Some storied college arenas,” he said, adding that the league is exploring other venues. The Cup’s structure will shift next season: semifinal games will be played at No. 1 seed home sites, and the concept of a final four in Las Vegas will change in 2026.
Despite the move to a streaming platform, the Cup has seen strong engagement. Saturday’s semifinals on Prime Video, the first season as a league broadcast partner, averaged 1.67 million viewers, a 14% increase over last season’s semifinals. The Saturday double‑header—San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City and New York vs. Toronto—recorded a 126% year‑over‑year jump in social media views, with more than 400 million views across all platforms, according to the league.
European League Initiative
Silver hinted that news about the NBA’s collaboration with FIBA to launch a league in Europe could arrive next month. He said the league is casting a wide net and inviting interested parties to present their plans. “We’re casting a very, very wide net right now and essentially saying to anyone who’s interested, come see our bankers, explain to us why you’re interested, how you view the opportunity, what resources you would put behind opening a team, and then we’re taking all that information back,” he explained. “And then I think sometime in late January, or in January, we’ll be in a position to have more serious conversations with those interested parties.”
The NBA is also preparing for regular‑season games in Berlin and London next month, as Orlando and Memphis travel for a pair of matchups, underscoring the league’s growing international footprint.
Key Takeaways
- The NBA will decide on expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle by 2026, with a formal determination expected next year.
- The Cup finals may leave Las Vegas, moving to storied college arenas, while viewership on Prime Video continues to climb.
- The league is actively courting European investors for a new FIBA‑backed league, with serious talks slated for January.
In sum, the NBA is actively shaping its future: exploring new markets, adapting its Cup format, and extending its reach overseas—all while maintaining the excitement that keeps fans tuned in.
