The last time NBA expansion took place, Facebook was launched and the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. The NBA hasn’t expanded since the hopeless Charlotte Bobcats joined in 2004 but is it time to grow the league from 30 teams?
Everyone loves a good NBA expansion rumor but that’s not what you’ll find here. Instead, we’re going to rank the ten favorite cities with the greatest potential for an NBA expansion team.
10. Anaheim, California
I’m going to Disney World! Okay, wrong sport but Anaheim has great potential for an NBA expansion team. The Kings almost relocated from Sacramento to Anaheim in 2011 and the Anaheim Royals name was even filed for trademark. The Honda Center already hosts the Anaheim Ducks but is a fifth team in California too much?
On Feb. 19, 2011, NBA commissioner David Stern reveals that the @SacramentoKings, Maloof family and officials in Anaheim, Calif. had conversations about relocation. By March 2011, the franchise filed for a trademark of the name Anaheim Royals.#InTheNameOfDefense#SacramentoProud pic.twitter.com/hHf7lqdQFL
— Publicity Agents (@TonyRayHarvey) April 26, 2022
9. Hampton Roads, Virginia
Which major league will take a gamble and introduce a pro sports team in Virginia? The Astros, Expos and Marlins have all had attempts at relocating MLB teams to Virginia but failed. So too did the Hornets before moving to New Orleans.
Hampton Roads has a large metro population but it’s too spread out, but the region has ranked first in the country for percentage of TVs tuned in to NBA games. A regional rivalry could form with the Wizards, who themselves have considered a move to Northern Virginia.
8. Montreal, Canada
Montreal is one of the largest markets in North America without an NBA team and is even bigger than Vancouver. The large Haitian and French-speaking African community fits right into the global brand of the NBA.
A home arena is already sorted, with Bell Centre hosting the Montreal Canadiens and capable of NBA crowds above 22,000.
7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
For a media market the size of Pittsburgh’s, the city is already punching above its weight with the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. And like a favorite child, the Steelers get all the attention and is one of the biggest sports brands in America. Maybe PPG Paints Arena could attract an NBA expansion team to Pittsburgh?
6. Kansas City, Missouri
The college basketball Hall of Fame is in Kansas City and the Kings played here before relocating to Sacramento in 1985. The league would benefit from a team in the area as Oklahoma City is 350 miles southwest, and Memphis 450 miles southeast.
Expansion into Kansas City would also support the already strong basketball culture with college teams ranking among the very best in the country.
Kansas City out here supporting an NBA team that left 37 years ago. It’s tough to think a sports town as great as this one doesn’t have an NBA franchise. pic.twitter.com/YCyOEtkDd5
— Jarrett Sutton (@JarrettTSutton) February 22, 2022
5. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City has a higher population than all North American markets and that includes New York City. With 9 million people within the city limits alone, an NBA expansion team in Mexico could be a financial windfall for the league. There’s precedent too, with the New Mexico Capitanes making their debut in the G League in 2021.
Adam Silver says Mexico City is “doing everything necessary” to be considered for an NBA expansion team. pic.twitter.com/iAjuqkflsh
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 18, 2022
4. Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is the third largest North American market with only one major league sports team, and that gives it a huge advantage for NBA expansion. A Raptors preseason game at Rogers Arena took 20 minutes to sell out in 2018, and since the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Vancouver has grown by more than 600,000 people.
3. Louisville, Kentucky
Despite the small market area Louisville is a strong candidate for an NBA expansion team and is bigger than New Orleans and Memphis, who both have NBA teams. Louisville’s home to the state-of-the-art KFC Yum! Center and there’s a history of pro basketball.
The Kentucky Colonels were one of the best teams in ABA history, and the city is home to the Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats, two of the best college teams in the country.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. The NBA’s Summer League is held in the city and other major leagues have already joined the party. What’s stopping an NBA expansion team in the city?
Nothing. There’s so many reasons why a Vegas NBA team makes sense and it’s seemingly a matter of if and not when. It took until 2017 for Vegas to have a major league team with the Golden Knights. Now there’s the Raiders and the Aces too in a city that’s hitting the sports jackpot.
All Net Resort and Arena will break ground in Las Vegas this October 🤩
💰 Cost $4 BILLION
🏟 23,000 seat arena w/ retractable roof
🌃 2 hotels & a theater
👀 Could be used to a draw a NBA franchise to Vegas(h/t @8NewsNow) pic.twitter.com/de2Uo8WB2E
— br_betting (@br_betting) July 19, 2021
1. Seattle, Washington
Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant. That’s a trio that could have led the Supersonics had they not relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. After so much heartache, Seattle deserves the next NBA expansion team for so many reasons.
The SuperSonics left Seattle because they couldn’t fund an upgrade to KeyArena. That’s no longer an issue since KeyArena underwent renovations exceeding $1 billion. Amazon branded the arena Climate Pledge Arena in a deal worth upwards of $400 million, and it now hosts NHL team the Seattle Kraken.
If NBA expansion takes place when a new TV rights deal is agreed in 2025, it better be Seattle who gets a team.
