The topic of NBA expansion has circulated for years, yet actionable steps remain elusive. Recently, NBA commissioner Adam Silver indicated that team owners have pushed for a detailed exploration of expansion possibilities. Mark Cuban, minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of expansion happening soon.

During an appearance on the DLLS Mavs podcast, Cuban outlined two main reasons he believes expansion is unlikely. “The expansion fee is merely a loan,” he stated, suggesting that teams would struggle under the financial burden this creates. He elaborated with an example: **“If the expansion fee is around $6 billion and I earn a fraction of that in TV money, I question why we would further divide our earnings across more teams.”

Cuban’s second point relates to the impact on player salaries due to revenue sharing among a greater number of teams, compounded by existing salary cap limitations. “The introduction of new teams would dilute the financial resources available to players, complicating their financial negotiations,” he noted.

Although Cuban maintains that expansion in the NBA may not be viable in the immediate future, he lends his support to initiatives to develop a league in Europe, citing it as a significant new revenue source and recognizing the NBA’s global growth and talent.

“The NBA’s robust potential in Europe presents new financial opportunities,” Cuban concluded.