NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has finally attached a concrete timeline to the NBA‘s long-running expansion debate, revealing that a league-wide decision will be made in 2026, as the announcement immediately reignited focus on Seattle and Las Vegas as frontrunners.
Expansion talk has hovered for years without direction, but the commissioner’s latest comments mark a shift from speculation to planning as Silver publicly confirmed when owners will formally decide on expanding.
“I’d say in terms of domestic expansion, that is something we’re continuing to look at,” Adam Silver said before the NBA Cup final between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
“It’s not a secret we’re looking at this market in Las Vegas. We are looking at Seattle. We’ve looked at other markets, as well.”
Seattle‘s absence since losing the SuperSonics still resonates with fans, while Las Vegas continues positioning itself as a basketball hub with the Las Vegas Aces, whilst also welcoming the Athletics in the MLB, Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL and Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL.
Silver explained that domestic expansion is fundamentally different from launching a separate league, noting that adding teams alters the ownership structure and directly affects the equity held by all current franchises.
Silver casts hope over stalled CBA negotiations
Silver recently addressed the ongoing WNBA collective bargaining negotiations, claiming cautious optimism that both the league and its players can reach a fair agreement before long-term damage occurs.
His involvement is centered on preventing disruptions to the 2026 season, a year viewed internally as pivotal for maintaining momentum created by rising attendance, television ratings, and merchandise sales.
At the heart of the dispute is revenue sharing. Players are pushing for compensation models that better reflect the league’s financial growth, while ownership remains concerned about sustainability and operating costs.
The league has proposed a $1,000,000 base salary framework, paired with the removal of team-provided housing, a tradeoff that has generated mixed reactions among players and fans.
Silver has emphasized that compromise is essential, acknowledging that players deserve equitable pay while stressing that any agreement must preserve league stability and long-term expansion goals.
His role has increasingly resembled that of a mediator, working behind the scenes to align financial realities with player demands before tensions escalate into labor disruptions.
The urgency surrounding the negotiations is heightened by the calendar. With the current agreement extended only temporarily, unresolved issues could soon affect planning for free agency and scheduling.
A failure to reach consensus could trigger a work stoppage, something both sides want to avoid given the league’s recent gains in mainstream attention and sponsorship interest.
Silver has repeatedly pointed to collaboration as the only viable path forward, framing the negotiations as an opportunity to modernize the league’s structure rather than a zero-sum standoff.
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