A board of governors meeting is scheduled for the next month in Las Vegas, where NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes it is likely that the owners will contemplate the potential for league expansion in the near future.

Silver remarked, “It will be on the agenda to take the temperature of the room,” during his annual news conference ahead of Game 1 of the finals. He added, “We have committees already in discussion; my sense is they will direct us at that meeting to pursue exploring this further.”

While it is not assured that expansion will occur, there are notable markets, such as Seattle and Las Vegas, expressing a desire to host NBA teams.

Silver emphasized, “I’d say the prevailing thought is that we should consider it, but I don’t think it’s automatic.”

The league office has received numerous inquiries from groups interested in expansion; previously, the standard response was that while the NBA appreciates the interest, real discussions were not underway. However, this is poised to change, contingent upon the owners’ approval, and may lead to engagement with external advisors assessing market opportunities and other relevant factors.

Regarding next year’s All-Star Game, Silver mentioned that he hasn’t ruled out a potentially intriguing format such as a U.S. versus World matchup. This would align well with Olympic coverage as the game airs during the Winter Olympics on NBC. Silver expressed confidence, saying, “I think we’re on to something.”

Top international players, including Victor Wembanyama from San Antonio and Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, have shown interest in this concept.

“We are exploring options that incorporate an international flavor into the All-Star competition,” Silver stated. He also noted ongoing discussions with the players’ association about various formats, suggesting that a straightforward U.S. vs. World setup may not be the optimal approach. In reference to a previous successful format in the NHL, Silver stated, “That’s not what they did in the NHL either.”