I bet you’re here because you want to find out if your city will host the next NBA expansion team. That’s cool. Expansion is well overdue. The last time the NBA expanded was in 2004. Facebook had just launched, and the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918.
Is it time to grow the league from 30 teams? Heck yes. The talent pool continues to get deeper, NBA viewership has gone up 16%, and it would give us an even amount of teams in both conferences.
The Next NBA Expansion Team?
It’s been many years since the Charlotte Bobcats were the last NBA expansion team, and the financial climate is very different now. Many teams are making healthy profits and potential owners are circling as a result. So now that the time is right here are the ten favorite cities for the next NBA expansion team:
10. Anaheim, California
California has the most NBA teams with four. Is there room for a fifth? Anaheim is the most likely landing spot for another team in the state and the city has been close before to snatching a franchise.
The Sacramento Kings would have relocated to Anaheim had it not been for the help from local business owners and Kings fans. If the chance ever arises Honda Center is ready and waiting to host a team.
Fun Fact: The Anaheim Royals name was filed for trademark in 2011 with the anticipation the Kings would relocate from Sacramento.
9. Hampton Roads, Virginia
Which major league will take a gamble on introducing a pro sports team in Virginia? The Astros, Expos and Marlins all attempted to relocate MLB teams to Virginia but failed. So too did the NBA’s Hornets, before moving to New Orleans.
Hampton Roads has a large metro population of in excess of 1.8 million, and the region is ranked first for percentage of TVs tuned in to NBA games. A regional rivalry could form with the Wizards, who themselves have considered moving base to Northern Virginia.
8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh doesn’t need to build an arena to host an NBA expansion team. PPG Paints Arena is already home to the Penguins, and also hosted March Madness games in 2022. The question remains whether a shrinking Pittsburgh population could support an NBA team in addition to existing NHL and MLB teams.
If we were to see a second team in Pennsylvania, these are some names for a potential Pittsburgh NBA expansion team:
- Pittsburgh Furnace
- Pittsburgh Copperheads
- Pittsburgh Engine
- Pittsburgh Ironmen
- Pittsburgh Fortress
- Pittsburgh Rebellion
7. Montreal, Canada
Montreal can easily handle an NBA expansion team with a metro population of over 4.3 million, which is larger than more fancied neighbors Vancouver. Bell Centre is already home to the Montreal Canadiens and is modern enough to host an NBA expansion team.
One of North America’s largest markets, Montreal has a large and growing Haitian and French-speaking African community which fits right into the NBA’s global brand.
Fun Fact: Haitian Canadians Bennedict Mathurin and Luguentz Dort were both born in Montreal and have made a big impact in the NBA.
6. Kansas City, Missouri
In addition to their hopes for an NHL expansion team, Kansas City’s chances of being awarded an NBA expansion team grows by the day. The passionate fan bases of the Chiefs, Royals and Sporting KC has pushed Kansas City into 14th place for best sports city.
The city was home to the Kansas City Kings before relocating to Sacramento in 1985, and there’s also no NBA team anywhere nearby to compete against a team in the city. Here’s the five biggest reasons why Kansas City can easily host an NBA team:
- Strong support for college teams: Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats are among the best in the country.
- Kansas City Jayhawks: Arguably the greatest college team of all-time. Their first head coach James Naismith literally invented basketball.
- Home to the College Basketball Hall of Fame: Located at the T-Mobile Center.
- T-Mobile Center: NBA-ready and already hosts the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament.
- No nearby NBA teams: Oklahoma City is 350 miles southwest of Kansas City, and Memphis 450 miles southeast.
“Our venue was built to house both an NBA and NHL team and still be one of the finest venues in the U.S.“
Kathy Nelson, CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission in 2021
5. Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver was awarded an NBA expansion team in 1995. They lasted only six seasons before the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis because they were losing games, money and fans.
The most fatal mistake Vancouver made was in the NBA draft, passing up on players including Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter.
Fast forward to today and Vancouver has grown by more than 600,000 people since relocating, has a thriving economy, and is the third-largest North American market with only one major league sports team.
Oh, and whenever the Raptors take their preseason games to Rogers Arena they’re a sellout.
4. Mexico City, Mexico
Could the NBA handle the logistics of having to travel to Mexico City? The Spurs are the nearest NBA team with San Antonio 700 miles away. The altitude of the city is also 2,000 feet greater than Denver.
If you can overlook that, Mexico City can host the next NBA expansion team and here’s why:
- Mexico City hosted its 32nd NBA game in 2023.
- With a population of more than 9 million, Mexico City is bigger than New York City.
- The New Mexico Capitanes made their G League debut in 2021.
“(We want) a bigger footprint here in Latin America, ultimately, the dream of an NBA franchise coming to Mexico City one day.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver in 2023 after the Hawks-Magic game in Mexico City.
3. Louisville, Kentucky
The easy argument against expansion into Louisville is that it’s a small market. That’s irrelevant, as Louisville is bigger than both New Orleans and Memphis, and the city doesn’t have a pro sports team to compete against an NBA franchise. That means maximum media attention and attendances for games.
KFC Yum! Center is one of the best arenas not to host an NBA team, and the Cardinals and Wildcats are among the best college programs in the country.
An NBA expansion team in Louisville would also have the coolest name. The Kentucky Colonels? Kentucky Buckets? How about the Louisville Liberty?
Fun Fact: Kentucky has previously been ranked as the best US state for basketball thanks to the Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. We’re yet to see the NBA expand into Las Vegas but its seemingly inevitable, ranking as our second favorite city to be awarded an expansion franchise. We wrote here 10 reasons why a team in Vegas makes sense, and these are our five favorite names for an NBA team in Las Vegas:
- Las Vegas Lions
- Las Vegas Outlaws
- Las Vegas Vipers
- Las Vegas Royals
- Las Vegas Venom
The NFL’s Raiders relocated from Oakland in 2020, and the Golden Knights and Aces have already brought home championships.
Las Vegas has also become the new frontier for the league as host of the annual NBA Summer League. There’s also no shortage of a potential homecourt with the already existing state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena, and plans for a potential $10 billion precinct which would include a new arena.
1. Seattle, Washington
Number one. The Seattle Supersonics – undisputed favorites for the next NBA expansion team. Seattle were robbed when the Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. Even worse, the Supersonics could have made a genuine championship run with a roster including Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant.
Why did the Supersonics relocate to Oklahoma City? The Supersonics left Seattle because they couldn’t fund an upgrade to KeyArena. But after so much heartache, Seattle deserves an NBA team and the timing couldn’t be better.
KeyArena, now called “Climate Pledge Arena”, underwent and completed renovations in 2021 which exceeded $1 billion, ready in time to host the Seattle Kraken who joined the league that same year.
Seattle also has the 23rd most millionaires in the world as well as some of the biggest companies headquartered in the city – Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, Costco and Starbucks to name a few.
Money ain’t a problem now for Seattle, and you’d be very brave to bet against the city being awarded the next NBA team.
“I believe it will be back. I believe it will be part of expansion in the league and to help run the team and help guide the team as they come back into the league. I would absolutely love that.”
Kevin Durant in a 2024 interview with boardroom.tv
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