NBA commissioner walks back expansion talks, to be discussed this season

Posted by Admin September 11, 2024 NBA

SEATTLE – The Seattle Supersonics, a team many thought would return to the NBA sooner rather than later, may be a bit further from becoming a reality once again.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told The Athletic that there wasn’t much talk about expansion in the league’s board of governors meeting on Tuesday. According to report, the NBA isn’t ready to decide whether it will expand, let alone which markets. However, Silver said the process “will be addressed later this season.”

Still, Silver’s comments are disappointing to say the least for Seattle sports fans, as many have awaited the return of the Sonics for 16 years. Though the Emerald City is home to the Storm and Kraken, and previously hosted NBA preseason games at Climate Pledge Arena, expanding doesn’t seem like a top priority for the National Basketball Association.

Despite Silver always teasing questions about bringing the Sonics back, recent developments in the league seem to point to an expansion announcement within the next few seasons.

Some point to the NBA’s new broadcasting agreement, which is three times the amount of the league’s current deal. While it’s still being worked on, those funds from the TV deal, coupled with Seattle’s growing sports market, could spell the Sonics’ return.

Silver’s tone with The Athletic seemed to be a bit hesitant, likely because the new media deal is being met with some criticism from regional sports networks. The article claims New York Knicks owner James Dolan argued the league is devaluing and deemphasizing local media deals, partially due to the addition of extra games exclusive to national broadcasts.

Silver adds that they will look at the local broadcast situation for some teams, along with possible options in European basketball as well.

As Silver and the rest of the league work to flesh out the broadcast agreement, Seattle sports fans can only speculate when they’ll finally get their NBA team back.