An upcoming NBA expansion is a reality. Whether the rumours of such an expansion happening in Canada are more mythical than real remains to be seen.
Canadian cities have already gained mention as potential locations in the expansion of the 30-team professional basketball league, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is keeping his cards close to his chest. The commissioner already acknowledged in June that the NBA expanding to a 32-team league is on his agenda, telling NBA TV that his “thoughts would turn to expansion” after sorting out pressing media deals.
American cities Las Vegas and Seattle have been the assumed frontrunners for additional NBA franchises since rumours of a future expansion first surfaced in 2022. Some may see recent November comments by Commissioner Silver to NBC Sports Boston as opening the door to the potential expansion franchise chances of Canadian cities Montreal and Vancouver.
“That’s (Canada’s) become a great basketball market. I will say the Toronto Raptors have done a good job of making themselves Canada’s team. I know there’s interest from Montreal. There’s still ongoing interest in Vancouver.
It began so much as a hockey market when we first expanded there. Young people love basketball now. Obviously, they still love their hockey there, but there will be more opportunity over time.”
Reading Silver’s comments between the lines reveals that Montreal and Vancouver remain options for future expansion, but possibly only further down the line.
Before the NBA Commissioner’s recent comments, a few of the best sportsbooks in Canada options provided some projected odds on where potential new expansion NBA franchises could be. Canadian cities did not feature prominently in these odds, with Mexico City (+650) and London (+1800) the two non-US cities most favoured by the bookmakers.
As expected, Las Vegas (+150) and Seattle (+250) topped the projections.
How the NBA has embraced sports betting is a contributing factor to Las Vegas’ chances, along with the growing popularity of the Las Vegas Summer League since its inception in 2004. A Las Vegas NBA franchise would also complete the city’s “Big Four” pro sport participation. NBA legend LeBron James’ publically stating he wants to own a franchise in Las Vegas someday is also likely to improve the city’s chances.
Of course, Seattle has a long and proud NBA history already. The Emerald City hosted a franchise for over 40 years in the Seattle SuperSonics until a change in ownership saw its relocation to Oklahoma City. There’s still a massive SuperSonics fanbase in Seattle, the largest city in the US without an NBA team. Might the 1979 Championship-winning SuperSonics possibly return to the NBA?
The NBA’s rise in popularity amongst Canadians is undoubtedly catching Adam Silver’s attention. Canada has the most active non-American players in the NBA, with 27 plying their trade in the league at the last count.
Among these, the Raptors forward Chris Boucher, NBA champions Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets) and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors) and 2022-23 All-NBA First Teamer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand out.
With the Toronto Raptors claiming the NBA Championship in 2018/19 and the bronze medal by the Canadian men’s basketball team in last summer’s FIBA World Cup, Canada has taken great strides forward in basketball over recent years.
Montreal would provide the NBA with a safe franchise option for expansion before taking on more complicated expansions to Mexico or the UK. Logistically, Canada’s largest city would allow the NBA to assess what works and what doesn’t without taking undue risks.
Vancouver hosted the Grizzlies in the NBA until just after the change in the millennium. The franchise lasted only six years, partly because the NBA Draft Lottery was never in its favour. Nowadays, a bigger NBA salary cap and greater NBA expansion motivation means Vancouver should find a strong franchise player without problems.
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