Could
the city of Las Vegas get a basketball franchise?
Only
if and when the National Basketball Association decides to expand.
NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters at
the All-Star
break and game in Indianapolis that Las Vegas is “definitely” on the list of
cities under consideration for an expansion franchise if the NBA decides to
grow.
That
could happen sooner rather than later.
The
league has 30 franchises and a year and a half left on its
$24 billion, nine-year media rights deal. Nothing will happen until those deals
expire.
"We want to figure out what our media relationships are
going to look like, but then we will turn to expansion," Silver said.
Las Vegas has long coveted an NBA franchise, thinking it would
not only add to civic pride but also be a tourist attraction. But city leaders
and tourism officials have not been overbearing about it and have slowly gone
about their way with other sports and proving their worth.
Just in the past
decade, Las Vegas, which formerly was the boxing capital of the world, has
hosted an NBA All-Star game, is the premier summer league for professional basketball
franchises, has garnered a National Hockey League and National Football League
franchise, as well as a Formula 1 Grand Prix race.
The city also has the two-time defending Women’s National
Basketball Association champion.
Moreover, Las Vegas has slowly overcome its stigma about
gambling, even hosting the Super Bowl for the first time earlier this month.
NBA superstar LeBron James has talked openly
for years about owning a franchise in the city.
Seattle has been rumored to be an expansion candidate along with
Mexico City, Montreal, Vancouver and Nashville.
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