20 cities that could get an NBA expansion team in the future

NBA possible expansion cities
My Twitter - / realpatrickmcl

[@adamiafrate3434]

You were quick to dismiss Montreal but it makes a lot of sense: - big population - natural rival with Toronto - close to every North Eastern team, minimal travel and easy realignment - diverse population, many immigrants, good AAU basketball in the area - existing iconic venue that seats over 21k and has can accommodate basketball - European/African players would likely find it to be less of a culture shock due to language and other commonalities I would look at Montreal before every US city after Seattle and LV

[@Jack20555]

Montreal did not show up to the Xbows so ig the NBA won’t show up to Montreal

[@Justfranktbh]

Great take

[@Byronic19134]

The problem is nobody feels like dealing with Canada's ridiculous SJW government and their blackface Abercrombie model PM. Like players not being able to play without being vaxxed in the playoffs was ridiculous when America who created the dam thing was already over it.

[@donkraemer50]

Kansas City has an NBA ready arena with an entertainmentdistrict. We host the Big XII tournament, the Women's Final Four. The College Basketball Hall of Fame is attached to the arena. We just broke the attendance record for the NFL Draft. The World Cup is coming. Our MLS attendance is usually near the top. We also have the first stadium in the country specifically for Women's Soccer. KC would support an NBA team very well.

[@antonybondy1240]

Yes KC would be a perfect fit, I just wonder what they’d pick to be the mascot.

[@pieceoflintifoundonthefloo554]

@@antonybondy1240 Kansas City Braves

[@kristopherlove2760]

@@antonybondy1240 Sacramento gonna have to be the bigger man. Lol

[@dreamcage1801]

Kansas City Reign - NBA team name

[@UncleTee99]

Yes KC

[@ZDoko-rv7zj]

I would be very high on the state of Kentucky to get an NBA franchise considering how much support the UK and Louisville basketball programs get at the collegiate level. You could put the stadium in the Louisville suburbs on the road to Lexington and it would compete against the Cavaliers and Pacers for fans in the southern Ohio media market. It would compete against the Grizzlies for fans in the Nashville media market. Lots of basketball tradition in the state of Kentucky and lots of potential fans within a 2 hour drive.

[@robserrano8971]

40 teams by 2040. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS AND LAS VEGAS BANDITS. Next move the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans to the East and add VANCOUVER VOYAGERS to the West. Next flow of teams in the West KANSAS CITY MUSTANGS, SPIRITS OF ST LOUIS. In the East LOUISVILLE STALLIONS, PITTSBURGH PITBULLS. Finally MONTREAL SAINTS, VIRGINIA BEACH NEPTUNES and JACKSONVILLE ARAMDA🎉. Make it happen... Comm. Adam Silver.

[@happytomeetyou2047]

I agree.

[@rockvilleraven]

Louisville holds the preseason NBA Attendance Record.

[@robserrano8971]

@rockvilleraven like they say the proof is in the pudding.

[@robserrano8971]

@@rockvilleraven LOUISVILLE COLONELS OR LOUISVILLE STALLIONS?

[@ZDoko-rv7zj]

I also think the state of Missouri needs to get an NBA franchise. Both Kansas City and St. Louis used to host NBA franchises that have since left and now there's a big hole in the center of the country on the NBA's map.

[@dvferyance]

Kc should get a team. St Louis has the NHL.

[@augmatt1399]

@@dvferyance and KC has the nfl. St. Louis should get the team

[@dvferyance]

@@augmatt1399 The NBA and NFL work. The NBA and NHL usually do not.

[@augmatt1399]

@@dvferyance KC would have to build an entirely new stadium for the NBA. STL could renovate Enterprise Center so it could host Blues and their NBA team. Cities like Toronto make NHL and NBA work very well.

[@dvferyance]

@@augmatt1399 Wrong they have the Sprint Center which was built to lure on NBA team in. Toronto is a way bigger market than St Louis.

[@elwin38]

What's hurting some of these cities is reputation and past experiences in pro basketball. Some of these cities, going back to the 60's and 70's whether it was the NBA or the ABA. Let's start with St Louis, they had the Hawks in the NBA and the Spirits in the ABA. The ST Louis Hawks owners wanted a new arena, the city said no, they sold the team and the new owners moved to Atlanta. The Spirits of St Louis of the ABA, attendance was piss poor the whole time they were there. In San Diego, the Rockets started there, but because of poor attendance they moved to Houston. There was the Conquistadores(Q's)and briefly the Sails of the ABA, very low attendance, they ended up folding, then the Buffalo Braves tried in San Diego(Clippers)and failed. MY CITIES FOR NBA EXPANSION ARE: Seattle, Kansas City, Vegas, Louisville, and Buffalo.🏀🏀

[@SammysmSoulGlow]

Kansas City too. The Kings moved to Sacramento.

[@BiggidyB]

Yes you made perfect sense. No new Canadian teams due to taxes & better US cities.

[@dshooter6391]

St Louis is too racist. The average white person, in St Louis, will not go see a basketball team full of black athletes.

[@Byronic19134]

St. Louis a perfect example of a cesspool of political corruption, and oppressed incomes, and yet the entire time since the 60s same political party getting voted in. And yes sports means economy and economy is politics.

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego is my pick

[@TheNewChevyRoll48]

They'll probably go Seattle and Las Vegas like the NHL. But if they wanna be the only show in town, then they oughtta go with Louisville and VA Beach. Granted, the Wizards ownership will probably object and do what any DC based team would do and block any teams from being in Virginia besides themselves.

[@dreamcage1801]

Kansas City the wild card

[@Alphaeus312]

I could definitely see Vancouver getting another NBA team.

[@dannyduncan8154]

Based on what?

[@BiggidyB]

Taxes buddy ask a Raptor player

[@LoveMyPeople04]

⁠@@BiggidyB lol bro, raptors players pays more in taxes

[@blacklivesmattersucks]

I hope so and Seattle that would be awesome

[@peace_of_mind_00]

Vancouver isn't getting another team. That was a failed experiment back in the 90s! Low attendance & no players wanted to play there. And they never came close to making the playoffs in there 6 years there.

[@shannonjohnson6532]

The Kansas City section made zero sense. What does the Royals wanting a new stadium have to do with anything? KC already has an existing arena that could accomadate the NBA or NHL tomorrow. They don't have to build anything. Just have someone willing to buy a team and park it there.

[@truthfacts5438]

Which no one would want to do, Kansas City is not a preferred market

[@kristopherlove2760]

@@truthfacts5438 that’s a lie; Kansas City almost makes more sense then Seattle. It’s equally as big of a basketball city with KU & basketball history just down the street. Big 12 tournament is there, and with the success of the chiefs, and all the major changes coming to the city, including the World Cup, now would be the time for someone to “park it” there.

[@kristopherlove2760]

@@truthfacts5438 and in terms of “preferred market” that really only applies to like New York, LA, & Miami… lol and I guess Vegas. Everywhere else is for the birds.

[@louisinese]

@@kristopherlove2760 that’s why the raiders got swooped up, and NHL is big and thriving out there in the desert. If any west coast nba team under preforms for too long I’m sure Vegas is their next stop.

[@kristopherlove2760]

@@louisinese Raiders owner was complaining about the fan base. You gonna make money no doubt; but I’d argue Seattle & KC are the most logical for building a strong franchise. Just my unwarranted & unprofessional opinion lol

[@apferrando]

Kansas City has to be at the top of the list. The Royals and Chiefs stadium situations are totally irrelevant. The T-Mobile Center is not just in existence already, it's a gorgeous building and NBA/NHL ready. It lacks a primary tenant. It's a big basketball hotbed. Add an owner, it's such an easy win.

[@NathanSpies]

I would totally love it if Louisville got an NBA team!

[@fadercreek]

they will it's on wikipedia

[@mindphaserxy]

For real. Natural rivalry with the Pacers built in...

[@squidMB]

They got my vote. Hopefully when the NBA expands they do 1 west team and 1 east team

[@squidMB]

?

[@Lucas6l5]

​@@appalachianenthusiast9499 Nashville supports the Grizzlies 100%

[@andrewm.8228]

Why would they build an entire new arena for a Vegas NBA team when they Have the T-Mobile arena?

[@nathanbrandli6827]

Well several other cities seem to have reasons why they don't share an arena. Seems like a waste to me.

[@TaxTaxes]

Vegas would definitely be the city to build another building

[@EdV-et6qm]

Prior to the Raptors entering the NBA only had a few Canadians like Steve Nash, Rick Fox, Samuel Dalembert etc … but now 23 Present NBA players are Canadian born or raised. Due to the Raptors the NBA now has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Andrew Wiggins, Benedict Mathurin, Dillion Brooks, Luguentz Dort, Kelly Olynyk, Brandon Clarke, Shaedon Sharpe, Andrew Nembhard Chris Boucher, Trey Lyles, Lindel Wigginton, Joshua Primo, Corey Joseph and Dwight Powell all score over 7 points a game this year in the NBA. All Canadians that may never have played in the NBA if not for Canadian expansion to Toronto. Plus 6 others…

[@mda990]

Joshua Primo my favourite Canadian baller

[@AlvinSeville1]

You know what they oughtta do? Have another Canadian team and name 'em the T-Rexs. 😂

[@williammoore27]

NBA has a new expansion team in Madison, Wisconsin!🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

[@dreamcage1801]

Montreal would be a great NBA land

[@wordsintowins]

St. Louis could work. They just got a team in MLS and they’re doing really really well. Beautiful stadium and they fill it.

[@pablotupone4190]

Tha cardinals too

[@pablotupone4190]

And they won an NBA title (hawks) in 1958

[@willp.8120]

@@pablotupone4190 And the Hawks have never even been to the NBA Finals since they moved to Atlanta in 1968. So pitiful, considering they have had winning teams most seasons, and were absolutely good throughout much of the 80s and 90s with Dominique Wilkins, Spudd Webb, Steve Smith, Mookie Blalock, Moses Malone, Doc Rivers, Dikembe Mutombo, and Christian Laettner.

[@testnojohnny]

nah... There's no way they'll go to St Louis. If they did end up going to Missouri they would go to kc but they still have a lot of other markets to fill first

[@coastercloudy]

Plus st louis is the #1 sports city for drawing crowds

[@EdV-et6qm]

Just FYI, Montreal has over 4 million people, 4 current NBA players are Montreal born like Pacers Benedict Mathurrin, OKC PG Lugentz Dort, Pacer PH Chris Duarte and Spurs PF Khmer Birch and (Chris Boucher of the Raptors is Montreal raised) over 10 Montreal born in NBA history. The Montreal forum can easily be converted for NBA games and have capacity of over 21,000 fans for an NBA game. Raptors played pre-season game to sold out crowds and all tickets sold within an hour. So odds are more like 5-10% not under 1%. Maybe not a top 5 candidate but 6-10.

[@gregsells8549]

The Forum was long ago replaced by Centre Bell.

[@estellegrignon]

​​@@gregsells8549 many people in Montreal, especially the older generation, still call the Bell Centre "The Forum"

[@barontaylor7139]

I still call it Molson Centre

[@nickbrunet4391]

You are really underestimating Montreal, it’s a top tier city in North America with a diverse population of more than 3 million, and Quebec loves their sports

[@louis-felixdesjardins2484]

True. I'd LOVE to see a city in my province

[@natedog0532]

NBA in MONTREAL WOULD BE EPIC! Definitely my new Team to root for!

[@louis-felixdesjardins2484]

@@natedog0532 🤜🤛

[@kejavu6403]

I like the Idea of Montreal having an NBA franchise, but Hockey is a religion over there, and they'd have to compete with the Canadiens. There is the argument that the Raptors have done just fine competing with the Leafs, but Toronto is a far larger and more Americanized market than Montreal is.

[@raymendez3403]

@@kejavu6403 it's because the Leafs sucks that's why the raptors could survive

[@001spring]

Seattle is 100% getting another team. And I'd say LV is about 80% guaranteed to eventually get a team. And Montreal would be great imo.....the Raptors play preseason games there and they sell out in minutes. And there are several NBA players from Montreal.

[@sheamcdonald3698]

Vegas will definitely get one. Already got 2 major sports and are probably getting baseball too.

[@estellegrignon]

I'm from Montreal and trust me, basketball is getting stupidly big here. Aside from the 2021 Canadiens reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, I've never seen the city buzz as hard as when the Raptors went on their run in 2019. And believe me, it takes A LOT for people of Montreal to cheer for Toronto

[@MikeySlou]

Montreal suck. The French would feel threatened even more if another anglophone sport tradition becomes popular in their province.

[@dreamcage1801]

What about Kansas City?

[@sheamcdonald3698]

@@dreamcage1801 Las Vegas and Seattle will most likely be in front of any other cities

[@GLad346]

the nba already guaranteed seatlle will get the next relocation before anyone else

[@jameschampken2660]

Expos attendance wasn't always bad actually. It wasn't great but wasn't terriable for most of the years. A good chunk of the 1979-1997 attendance averaged usually between 17k-22k a game which isnt great, but not awful either, with a few years in the early 80s getting about 25k-28k a game. Today getting 17k-22k will often put you around 18th-25th on the list of the 30 MLB teams average attendance list. However the last 7 years Expos attendance was awful usually 9k-12k a game, this happened for many different reasons, a big issue being needed a new stadium and ownership, Expos were looking a lot like Oakland does today. One positive thing Montreal has going for it is its a pretty big city....with 1.7 million people in the actual city, its a far larger city then the others in USA that dont have a current team. Add its metro population and its at 4.3 million. Negative though is lower canadian dollar , and needs a new stadium.

[@estellegrignon]

Can't they play at Bell Centre? If so, that would become the highest capacity arena in the league at 22k!

[@emmanuelfrechette5498]

Basketball is the most popular youth sport in Montreal (yes even more popular than hockey), many young NBA players are from north of the border (Mathurin etc). Montreal already has a state of the art facility in the Bell Centre. It is by far the largest metro area/tv market in the US or Canada without a team (4.3 million people). The Raptors play pre season there and sell out the games within minutes. To say that Montreal has 0% chance is just an ignorant take

[@doodooman4026]

Yes I would love to see another NBA team in Canada

[@mikewolosz9456]

Thing with canada is the money because you have to pay players in us dollars so ticket prices would be through the roof. That is why adding football or hockey is hard because of cost.

[@LeonardWeirich-gq2gp]

Las Vegas has a WNBA team (Aces) NHL team (Golden Knights), and NFL team (Raiders). An NBA expansion team and MLB team in Las Vegas makes sense. An NBA expansion team in Seattle also makes sense. Baltimore was a home to the Washington Bullets for a number of games.

[@rockvilleraven]

The Baltimore Bullets started playing a few games at Cole Field House at College Park the early 70s to test the DC area market and Abe Pollin built the Capital Center, ironically Abe Pollin management group ran the Baltimore arena for a few years and the Bullets returned to play 4 games a year and the AHL Skipjacks became the Caps affiliate for a few years. They just finished a major renovation of the now renamed CFG Bank Arena but are looking at concerts and entertainment events, similar to the T Mobile Arena in KC

[@LeonardWeirich-gq2gp]

@@rockvilleraven Very interesting

[@jdredwine7224]

I think St Louis or Kansas City has a good shot. Middle of the country which is easy for travel, but also Missouri has every major pro league except for the NBA. Seattle is a clear favorite. Las Vegas? The Raiders, A's, Knights, Aces, and front runner for MLS expansion. I know Vegas is growing fast, but is it all 5 sports big? Plus being the epicenter for Boxing and MMA? Maybe they should stick with the summer league for a while longer.

[@TheNotoriousJP]

Baltimore did have an NBA team before. It’s where the Bullets/ Wizards were for a decade before moving to Washington. Can’t see them getting an expansion team although Under Armour might jump to help. Would say it’s a long shot.

[@TooColdProdz]

Especially with the wizards, a potential VA beach expansion, and the heavy saturation of sports in the northeast…

[@rockvilleraven]

They just did a major renovation of the Baltimore Arena, but they are going at mostly concerts and entertainment events it’s still too small for a NBA team, the new name is the CFG Bank Arena. Springsteen was the first act to play there.

[@hrferguson]

Baltimore will have the support from the locals here. DC and Baltimore has bad blood rivalry with any sports. The attendance won’t be a issue cause the support will be there consistently. Plus when you look at the league overall. Baltimore and DC consistently push out NBA talent in a consistent basis.

[@comoamosto5224]

@@hrferguson agree plus to be honest though the Wizards ain’t bringing DC a championship anytime soon & like you said Baltimore vs. DC Rivalry can be a good thing I mean we see it with the Orioles vs. Nationals & Ravens vs. Commanders (even though the Commanders don’t actually play in DC they play in Landover, MD but still are close enough to being a DC team) plus especially during the baseball offseason when it’s just the Ravens playing on Sundays it be nice to have another major team from the city to watch or go check out a game & Baltimore is definitely a NBA City & as you said we are producing athletes that make it to the NBA I’m sure some of them might want the opportunity to play for their hometown/homestate team if given the chance. Adam Silver can make it happen!

[@stephenconnors7380]

One of the most interesting things about basketball is its ability to successfully place teams in markets that would have trouble supporting the other three major sports: Sacramento, OKC, San Antonio, etc... Amazingly, they still haven't put teams in places like St Louis, Montreal, or Pittsburgh.

[@robertphoenixastroplus8182]

People in San Antonio would support any major league sport. There's a huge Hispanic community there and a really strong connection to baseball. It ranks 7th overall in the US for most populated cities. A's should have moved there.

[@testnojohnny]

yeah idk about San Antonio pal.... That's a huge and growing city that loves it's sports

[@Itshadow306]

San Antonio can definitely get MLB and NFL Teams and I’m looking at the Anaheim Angels and Jacksonville Jaguars to move there and become the San Antonio Missions and San Antonio Jaguars to join the San Antonio Spurs.

[@DJCloroxx]

Vancouver is probally #3. Crazy Money there compared to when they left 20+ years ago... and a huge Asian population. It's a global play without having to leave the 4 timezones

[@dreamcage1801]

No Vancouver! Montreal and San Diego

[@205impala]

Sacramento kings Golden 1 arena has natural light coming in the arena.

[@dreamcage1801]

Outside of Seattle and Las Vegas, Montreal and Kansas City could lit an NBA team very well. Potential Vegas nba team can play in the t mobile arena so why build another arena which is stupid by the way. Seattle Sonics will definitely return at some point. Nice to have a team in Mexico City but the cartel crew is an issue. Montreal and KC would do completely well if they have an NBA team.

[@gregbaldwin5144]

Montreal?? Based on what exactly??

[@augmatt1399]

St. Louis would be better. More NBA talent comes out of STL and there is already huge basketball culture here. Lots of SLU and Mizzou fans.

[@eddietran5803]

yeah vegas got an nhl arena but not all indoor arena can support both basketball and hockey. Look at the islanders when they moved into barclays in brooklyn they had a basketball team in barclays in the nets and when they tried to add hockey into it ppl were complaining there were seats that blocked the view, and the ice issue, and it really hurt the team's revenue until the islander decided to build a new hockey arena. At the end of the day, its about the design of the arena and the purpose whether its hockey specific, basketball specific

[@squidMB]

Louisville could work. Be the sole “major sport” in the city like OKC and memphis.

[@GREG79201]

@@gregbaldwin5144 Montreal has the best attendance in the NHL and had great attendance and atmosphere for preseason NBA games, there’s also a lot of basketball fans in Montreal.

[@streetrat7025]

Vegas and Seattle WILL get a team. But in the future, KC, VA Beach.

[@Littlegoblinfatface]

…. Virginia Beach is not getting an nba team dude…

[@jakelex1194]

@@Littlegoblinfatface exactly i been there haft my life it’s nothing there that’s why i moved

[@dreamcage1801]

@@Littlegoblinfatface right!!! KC, Montreal and MXC are in the future

[@SergioFernandez-cj4mt]

A few years back there was talk of Louisville getting an NBA team and naming the team the ‘Kentucky Colonels’ 🏀

[@kenrickeason]

That would be awesome..

[@ChillydontCap]

Do you really think a league of 80% black players are gonna play for a southern team with a confederate name? Try again.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

tbh a question must be asked do we really need another NBA Expansion like 30 teams is alot already

[@robertorres2425]

Can you imagine that the NBA has 40 teams and these are the 10 candidates Seattle, (Washington), Las Vegas, (Nevada), Pittsburgh, (Pensilvania), Louisville, (Kentucky), Vancouver, (BC), Montreal, (Quebec), Cincinnati, (Ohio), Baltimore, (Maryland), Kansas City, (Missouri) and Mexico City

[@robfigulski1139]

Yes... Let's water down talent.. Sounds fascinating... Kentucky is "KY" btw..

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego (California)

[@danimalman3]

I would've moved the clippers back to san diego. I wouldn't want to continue to be the Lakers little brother.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

That's what their owner should have done instead of building a new arena in Inglewood. Just seems like a missed opportunity rather than sharing w/ the Lakers

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego is going to get their own NBA expansion team with a new fresh arena coming up

[@edgarponce746]

Regarding Arrowhead Stadium, I’m sure it’s about to get some Love considering it’s hosting matches in the Worlds biggest tournament, the FIFA World Cup in 3yrs.

[@penaltybox9097]

San Diego could support basketball 🏀 ..

[@BIFC216]

False they're a much smaller market than Cleveland

[@penaltybox9097]

@@BIFC216 they get good crowds for Laker preseason games ..

[@jordanjohnson9866]

@@BIFC216 Nah. Nah to False. Not False. /

[@MikeySlou]

They obviously can’t support anything. Ask the chargers.

[@MikeySlou]

@@BIFC216 San Diego suck but they have a big enough market. Bigger than, okc, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Memphis, and San Antonio.

[@GridironSteady]

Last thing we need is more bad NBA Basketball. League is already waterdown, plus player load manage a quarter of the season. No more teams please.

[@412StepUp]

I live in Pittsburgh. I doubt there will ever be an NBA team here. But who knows?

[@xerirenee3352]

Too much of a racist culture.

[@dreamcage1801]

It’s really a football town and they might not support a NBA team

[@bilic8094]

​@@dreamcage1801 The hockey team does really well in Pittsburgh.

[@overbanked]

That's how Vancouver's skyline looks for the most part LOL

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. /

[@texasscifi3431]

Kansas City deserves a team back. As does San Diego and Seattle. Likely Seattle and Las Vegas.

[@AlvinSeville1]

Pittsburgh would be good.

[@kenrickeason]

Kentucky do too.. They need their team back.. Kentucky is a basketball state..

[@dreamcage1801]

Montreal

[@georgedickson]

We have 2 cities Baltimore and Pittsburgh NBA expansion teams in the future.

[@JakeMcshane3]

Local San Diegan here. I think San Diego could support an NBA team. The Chargers actually drew well, but left due to the stadium issue. The Padres draw well, and Aztecs basketball games are usually sold out. I think the reason we won't get a team is lack of a suitable facility. I don't see the local taxpayers assisting with the construction of a new arena.

[@Rose34561]

The problem with San diego getting a NBA team would they care Honestly Idk because California already has The warriors Clippers lakers Kings adding a 5th team would be madness and im saying that as a warriors fan

[@willp.8120]

San Diego would be a great choice. They were the original home of the Clippers, which had been renamed from the Buffalo Braves.

[@JakeMcshane3]

@@willp.8120 and the Rockets!

[@AlvinSeville1]

Taxpayers funding a stadium is very unpopular. Many folks are not interested in sports and having them dole out a percentage of their income for to them being frivolous would not bode well.

[@dreamcage1801]

California has state itself is in deep shit

[@mikewolosz9456]

I see only to cities getting teams in the next 10 years. Plus is there enough talent to fill out the rosters for more teams

[@alexanderarce3341]

Seattle expansion team should be the SuperSonics and even St. Louis or even Vancouver getting a NBA team

[@ejl1982-1]

Vancouver and Seattle should definitely get their teams back

[@alfonsogreen2722]

Seattle is a lock. St. Louis would b a great choice. Vancouver maybe

[@lelandanderson8319]

I'm live in Columbus. It was in the running for either Seattle or Vancouver when they were relocating but we got the expansion Blue Jackets!

[@johnpaulbacon8320]

Thanks for this well done video. In My Humble Opinion when the NBA has an expansion if Seattle doesn't get a new team ; the NBA won't like the response by fans in Seattle and maybe even the City itself.

[@EdV-et6qm]

Prior to the Raptors entering the NBA only had a few Canadians like Steve Nash, Rick Fox, Samuel Dalembert etc … but now 23 Present NBA players are Canadian-born or raised. Due to the Raptors, the NBA now has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Andrew Wiggins, Benedict Mathurin, Dillion Brooks, Luguentz Dort, Kelly Olynyk, Brandon Clarke, Shaedon Sharpe, Andrew Nembhard Chris Boucher, Trey Lyles, Lindel Wigginton, Joshua Primo, Corey Joseph, and Dwight Powell all score over 7 points a game this year in the NBA. All these Canadians may never have played in the NBA if not for Canadian expansion to Toronto. Plus 6 other Canadians not mentioned above are in the NBA right now.

[@Ajpedata]

I feel like raleigh would be an interesting option because the triangle metro is huge and rapidly expanding and we already have the canes in nhl.

[@myckiebruh]

all i know is louisville needs a team

[@LuisCruz-bz4uz]

Seattle,Pittsburgh or Kansas City

[@marcolojacono2451]

buffalo would be sick and deserve the clippers back, a toronto buffalo rivalry would be awesome, the fans there too???? come on now! the old buf braves unis are sick toooooo

[@thiagoprofili4806]

true, I went to the key bank center last month to see sabres vs rangers and 100% the city could support it

[@brandynhenry7107]

NBA and NHL don't step on each other's shoes in mid-small markets. Every city with both is a large city

[@alfonsogreen2722]

Ikr. Buffalo would've been a great choice

[@tylerroe3125]

As someone from the Raleigh Durham area I think an nba team here would be great. People LOVE the canes and the history of college basketball is really strong too

[@Mr.Ed_Wayner]

Seattle & Louisville would be my choices. LV with NFL, NHL & probably MLB will be saturated with pro sports.

[@willcartoons]

I agree. Louisville having a team would be great! They already have the arena and those people love basketball to death! And I miss Seattle having a team. I miss the Sonics.

[@kenrickeason]

​@@willcartoons I agree heavily with your comment and I do miss the Supersonics even though I wasn't a fan (I'm an Atlanta Hawks Fan) but I respected them..

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego deserves a basketball team again and it should be named the Jets based on military routes.

[@mooch2oh6]

Seattle is an absolute lock for 1 team, and I think Vegas is ALMOST a lock for the other... Only because the arrival of the A's could mean an oversaturation of sports teams in such a short period for that market if NBA comes too. But Seattle is the biggest US market without a team and already has over 40 years of NBA history, a turn-key arena that had over a billion dollars put into it and an ownership group with heavy league connections that's just waiting. Not to mention a basketball fanbase that's been absolutely starved for pro ball for the last 15 years (Sonics fans got screwed and the team did not leave due to fan support). Tbh if you visit Seattle today you would almost not even realize the SuperSonics had left a decade & a half ago by how much their legacy remains present in the city.

[@willp.8120]

Las Vegas shouldn't be a lock. The two best NBA potential markets are Seattle and San Diego. Other good markets include Tampa, Louisville, and Norfolk-Virginia Beach.

[@dreamcage1801]

Vegas is gonna get an nba team fo sure

[@soonerguy8011]

As an Okc fan I agree. I really want Seattle to have a team. That thunder vs sonics rivalry will be a lot of fun too

[@dreamcage1801]

@@soonerguy8011 yup and it’s unacceptable to not have a nba team in Seattle

[@soonerguy8011]

@@dreamcage1801 definitely. I’d love to travel up to Seattle to the CPA to watch OKC vs Seattle. Would be so fun. And the city 100% deserves the sonics. I love my city got a team but hate how we took it tbh. Can’t wait for the future rivalry. Silver needs to get the expansion deal done NOW

[@jreiland07]

Nobody in Pittsburgh cares about the NBA. We’re really not even big enough for three teams - sports being a huge part of the local culture is the only reason we can even find enough support for the teams we already have.

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. Not “Nobody in Pittsburgh cares about the NBA.” /

[@roderickjackson7446]

I lived in Pittsburgh many years ago. There was no discussion of the NBA at all. Even the Pirates struggled with attendance. They worship the Steelers. The Penguins did well in game attendance.

[@willp.8120]

I agree. The first time I went to Pittsburgh, I was thinking I was going to see a really big city, but what I found was that it looked very small and somewhat slow-paced.

[@JBG1968]

The natural light thing is an issue for any multi use arena with an NHL team with the sun light being a problem for the ice

[@estellegrignon]

Vegas already has its own brand new hockey arena with T-Mobile Arena, host of the Golden Knights

[@JBG1968]

@@estellegrignon true , but i didnt mean specifically Vegas . Just more of an in general . They mentioned multi purpous and natural sunlight .

[@nathanguillaume1247]

Im impressed with the way you picked realistic percentages. I expected you to pick unrealistically high percentages across the board

[@aaronlowinger4465]

Nice list of cities that have other pro sports team

[@vamoscruceros]

If Kansas City has to renovate or build new stadiums for the Royals and Chiefs, it won't be much longer before T-Mobile Center will need similar attention - it was built in 2007. The obstacle with Louisville is that the University of Louisville has a very favorable lease with the Yum! Center. UofL controls the arena on dates surrounding their games (not just the day of the event), gets priority on branding (i.e., the Cardinal logos on the exterior of the arena), and gets a cut of non-UofL event revenue. All of that has to go away for a NBA team to play there. It would be easier for the State Fair Board to plunk $100 milliom into Freedom Hall, renovate it to NBA standards, and let a team play there.

[@williammoore27]

NBA has new expansion team in Newark, New Jersey!🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽

[@seanstours3913]

Guys common, Vancouver(west), Seattle(west), Las Vegas(west) and Pittsburgh(east) end of discussion

[@somosdeamstrad]

NBA once said about expanding to a European wing in the future. Then, London, Madrid, Berlín, and other European capitals could have a team

[@ALEXANDERNEVERMIND1958]

THE SUPERSONICS ARE COMING BACK . SEATTLE COULDNT BE MORE OF A SHOO IN RIGHT NOW. #ONDECK

[@user-vv3uy1qz7h]

Seattle yesss

[@1stomper499]

The cities i say should have an nba team are st louis, Albuquerque , Kansas City , Pittsburg, tulsa.

[@EdV-et6qm]

Just FYI, Montreal has over 4.5 million people (more than Seattle or Los Vegas), 4 current NBA players are Montreal born like Pacers Benedict Mathurrin, OKC PG Lugentz Dort, Pacer PH Chris Duarte and Spurs PF Khmer Birch and (Chris Boucher of the Raptors is Montreal raised) over 10 Montreal born in NBA history. The Montreal Bell Centre can easily be converted for NBA games and have a capacity of over 21,000 fans for an NBA game. Raptors played pre-season games to sold-out crowds and all tickets sold within an hour. So odds are more like 5-10% not under 1%. Maybe not a top 4 candidate but top 5-10 for sure.

[@lakerskid2013]

I think the top 5 possibilities for expansion teams are: 1. Seattle 2. Las Vegas 3. Louisville 4. Nashville 5. Cincinnati Honorable mentions: Pittsburgh, Kansas City, St. Louis

[@dvferyance]

I doubt there will ever be 2 teams in Tennessee so that rules Nashville out.

[@everythingbutthegirlfan762]

If Tampa had an NBA team I would never ever go.

[@AlvinSeville1]

Jacksonville

[@user-vv3uy1qz7h]

Lol

[@ORGANICsoulJAZZ]

Eastern Conference 1.Louisville 2. Cincinnati 3.Pittsburgh 4. Jacksonville 5. Baltimore

[@overchicken286]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Grizzlies when you talked about Nashville. Nashville doesn't want to compete with Memphis Grizzlies, most Nashville NBA fans support the Grizzlies.

[@Lucas6l5]

I certainly support the Grizzlies as a Nashvillian, I kind of wish we had a NBA franchise but looks like we're first to get a MLB team next in the league

[@garymartin1956]

We need pot holes fixed , schools Upgraded, affordable housing, help for poor and homeless. The government just to spend 2.1b on a new fb stadium. We are pro sports poor.😢

[@overchicken286]

@@garymartin1956 Just so they could host March Madness and the Superbowl. Yet none of the local teams will make them haha (Hurts to say that as a Titans fan).

[@BOBT3AM]

Mtl need to happen and i dont see why built a new arena in vegas for a nba team when they already have a brand new arena ready T mobil arena where the Golden Knights actually play

[@tropicalbeach9225]

an nba team in mexico city would be great!! I think they should also put one in New Mexico!

[@davidtosh7200]

I pick Nashville Tennessee for the NBA team in the near future. Nashville could have all Big 4 professional sports in this “Country” Music City. Nashville already have the Titans for NFL, and have the Predators for the NHL. Nashville is seeking for the MLB team near the end of this decade.

[@dreamcage1801]

They have been mentioned recently too

[@oaxtec765]

I know Providence would be an inconvenientonal pick, but it would make more sense than i think you give it credit for. It has more people in the area than the Louisville, Honolulu, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Memphis, Oklahoma City, or even New Orleans areas which you either considered or alresdy havw major sports teams, in addition its 3 hours from new york, 1 from Boston, 1 1/2 from new haven and hartford. I could definitely see either ajoint connecticut and rhode island team, or more probably a joint Boston-providence team that plays around foxburough. Ieanany patriots players live in Providence and the team flies out of the Providence airport.

[@papaphatz4144]

Providence has a population around 200k. Stop the Cap

[@TheCyborgXD]

I lost it at that Vancouver photo

[@fadercreek]

seattle, vegas, san diego, louisville, vancouver, montreal, kansas city, pittsburgh, virginia beach, and mexico city are all getting teams

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. /

[@fadercreek]

@@jordanjohnson9866 look it up

[@AlvinSeville1]

Don't forget St. Louis, Anchorage, Honolulu, Mentone, and Lagos.

[@fadercreek]

@@AlvinSeville1 Mentone?Lagos?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Brock_900]

One of the major obstacles of Las Vegas is the market size.

[@alansnow1129]

Actually Vegas has ton of visitors that would go to the games too.

[@ewbait]

I'd love to get an NBA team here in San Diego. We've had two with the Rockets and Clippers, but I think it could really work. You say it's the laid-back attitude, but the Chargers only left because Spanos is greedy and wanted us to front a new stadium, which eventually happened anyway. Additionally, we just got an MLS expansion, and the Wave has been insanely successful. The biggest problem is the Lakers. Almost everyone from SD is a Lakers fan, including me.

[@HH__09]

A big issue is that there would be 5 teams in california. I feel that's just way too many, given that the Lakers and Warriors are big, famous teams with large fanbases, so I doubt that fans would be willing to ditch one of them for a team in SD

[@dreamcage1801]

@@HH__09California is a rich ass state so they can have a 5 nba team there like San Diego

[@HH__09]

@@dreamcage1801 read it again, and regardless, 5 teams is too much and idk how big California is

[@TiltBrook]

I would reconsider your thinking about STL… The XFL is wrapping up their season… The St. Louis attendance was AMAZINGLY huge compared to the rest of the league!…fan support is there!

[@Feelsbadman23]

I get secondhand embarrassment from how seriously my stl friends take the crappy xfl. It’s weird

[@Lucas6l5]

​@@Feelsbadman23 lmao fr I honestly think being high on the attendence record for XFL is a bad thing 😂

[@willp.8120]

St. Louis had the Hawks before they moved to Atlanta.

[@robfigulski1139]

What about Bismark, ND???

[@coastercloudy]

I feel like jacksonville fl could work too they only got nfl and multiple minor teams including a basketball team Also tiaa is getting renovated to a super stadium and the city has been better then ever

[@C1K450]

It will definitely be Seattle and Las Vegas, but the western conference will be harder to compete in.

[@robahrr9919]

They'll just move one of the Western Conference teams to the Eastern Conference. I would go with Memphis because they are geographically the most eastern.

[@famouscriminals18]

The best option would be Des Moines. Sounds weird at first. Iowa has a comparable population to Utah and Oregon, but they have no professional sports teams. Similar to Utah, everybody there probably would get behind an NBA team.

[@williammoore27]

NBA includes a new expansion team in Newark, New Jersey!🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽

[@metsandjetsfan5174]

I see Seattle, Las Vegas join the NBA and Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Newark (NJ), Tampa Bay, St Louis, Nashville, Cincinnati, Louisville, San Diego Long island, Jacksonville and Columbus (OH) to become members of American Basketball Association Premier as the new league to exchange talent between the ABA and the NBA and both sides will benefit

[@mikem957]

Nashville has less than ZERO percentage chance of getting an NBA expansion franchise as long as the Grizzlies are 2 hours away in Memphis. And Memphis and tge state have approved a $350 million renovation within the next year of the FedEx Forum. So the Grizzlies won't be relocating anytime soon within the next decade or so. Seattle will probably get a franchise to relocate sooner than later and that will most likely be the Pelicans. New Orleans has the least attractive arena and in a small market. Las Vegas will be the next city after that to land an expansion team, IF the league does expand. Its popularity is dwindling lately.

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

As a Nashvillian, your take is spot on.

[@brandynhenry7107]

They have less than a zero chance because there's already an NHL team there too. There's no city that small with both. Corporate dollars get spread way, way too thin and filling up an arena 82 times plus playoffs a year at modern prices is a huge ask for a city

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

@Brandyn Henry nashville has over a million people. Plus, has Nashville 3 major league teams

[@mikem957]

@@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1 Memphis has a metro population of 1.3 million. Nashville is only about 1.5 million. Nashville is the state capital and has become the southern Hollywood like Atlanta, who is also a capital of Georgia.

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

@@mikem957 Atlanta. But I'm agreeing with you. There are a lot of Grizzlies fans up here in Nashville.

[@GsunnyGGamer]

Adam Silver in 2016 said he'd like to bring a team back to Vancouver

[@PanthersCentral704]

Just found this out not too long ago: Mexico City is not only the largest city in Mexico, but the largest in North America (in terms of overall population). There’s at least one regular season game played there every year and Mexicans seem very passionate when it comes to sports, particularly soccer. Only major issue would be having to cross the border and I suppose the altitude being that it’s in the mountains but I wouldn’t mind seeing the NBA expand outside of the US be it Canada or Mexico since it’s less traveling involved unlike Honolulu and London.

[@dreamcage1801]

MXC will be the round of expansion I’m hearing from Silver

[@tonywarner4056]

Don’t sleep on Buffalo getting a NBA team back. Small market but passionate fans and the Keybank Center would be able to hold a NBA team.

[@jimbolia1234]

Do Las Vegas have the T-Mobile Arena?

[@ambulabula1908]

For me the top cities for expansion in the west would be: Seattle Vegas Kansas City Omaha St.Louis Vancouver East: Nashville Louisville Virginia Beach Colombus Pittsburgh Imo ofc lol

[@robserrano8971]

40 teams by 2040. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS, LAS VEGAS VEMON, VANCOUVER VOYAGERS, KANSAS CITY MUSTANGS, SPIRITS OF ST LOUIS, LOUISVILLE COLONELS/STALLIONS, PITTSBURGH PITBULLS, NEWARK EAGLES/GLADIATORS, MONTREAL SAINTS/HUSKIES, VIRGINIA SQUIRES/VIRGINIA BEACH NEPTUNES.

[@robserrano8971]

VANCOUVER KODIAKS is another option. Bear paw w a "V" or fierce bear w a maple leaf in the background. The battle of the bears. SOUTHERN COMFORT v NORTHERN EXPOSURE.

[@grantpicklesimer2995]

Vancouver needs one. Columbus Ohio could support an NBA expansion team. There's options out there. And we know that Seattle will almost certainly get the Sonics back.

[@teacherjoe7019]

Seattle is definitely first in line but I would look for the NBA to do what works and expand into a city where it's the only game in town. Think of the healthy franchises in Sacramento, Memphis, San Antonio, Portland, Utah, Oklahoma City and all of the cities whose first pro franchise was the only game in town when they entered the league.

[@squidMB]

Louisville would get my vote

[@ZDoko-rv7zj]

In Phoenix, the NBA was the only game in town for over 20 years, so I agree the model works. Problem is that pro sports have proliferated so much around the country there aren't many virgin markets left. Maybe Albuquerque? Boise? Des Moines?

[@user-pf9hj7tx5m]

Norfolk.....would be the only game in town and the population of the tidewater area is probably 2 million. It would do great there.

[@nathanbrandli6827]

​@Z Doko those cities are too small.

[@willp.8120]

@@ZDoko-rv7zj Markets that are big enough without an NBA team. Norfolk-Virginia Beach Raleigh-Durham Richmond Tampa-St. Petersburg San Diego Seattle Louisville Nashville Columbus Cincinnati Kansas City Las Vegas Jacksonville Baltimore Vancouver Calgary Edmonton Montreal Austin Providence The following could potentially do okay: Omaha Buffalo Tulsa Tucson Birmingham

[@brandongilligan6893]

We didnt lose the Chargers. They were ripped from us by a greedy owner. SD is trying to build a new arena. The plan is for a small one however.

[@zacksheets9726]

They should consider an arena that is up to NHL standards. The Ducks are going to need an arena in the next 10-15 years so make the arena so it is a minor renovation away from being a full time NHL venue in case the Ducks decide to leave Anaheim

[@williamrenando1298]

100%. I’m a Lions fan, but I truly know just how much Dean ‘Scam’os ditched the loving fans of San Diego. The Chargers need to relocate back to San Diego whenever they are realistically able to. If not, they could definitely use an NFL Expansion Team. Basketball wise, maybe but I do think that there are better more suited markets that should be considered: Seattle Kansas City Las Vegas Pittsburgh Vancouver (Just move the Grizzlies back there) St. Louis Louisville Nashville

[@dtcc2k9]

@@williamrenando1298 As someone from San Diego. We had 2 NBA teams in the past and both left so there’s very little hope of San Diego getting a 3rd NBA. I mean Washington, D.C. had to baseball teams in the past before the nationals so there’s that

[@zvbx]

@@williamrenando1298 I also would like the Chargers to go back to San Diego.

[@horacecomegna335]

So, given your example, Baltimore never lost the Colts, or Cleveland never lost the Browns because the owners were greedy?😂😂😂

[@sheloveeuno]

What about a team in austin tx ???

[@nathanbrandli6827]

Too close to San Antonio. I'd like to see Austin get baseball and hockey while San Antonio gets a football team.

[@RaulTibe]

You're missing a big point on Mexico City : Us players would have to live in a foreign tongue environment... would be a No-Go for most Free agents.

[@nosleeptillhumboldt]

Wild you didn’t mention FC Cincinnati of MLS in the Cincy section. They’re stadium is selling out like every league home game

[@workconverseify]

Seattle, Vegas, St. Louis, Montreal, Louisville & K.C. would be my top 6 future NBA markets. Honorable mentions: Columbus, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Nashville, Virginia Beach

[@soulofamerica]

Only thing Baltimore is missing is an NBA arena. Its a bigger, richer metro area than when the Baltimore Bullets left in the 1970s. Another possibility is San Diego, but that need an NBA Arena built.

[@mostlymikeandmel4629]

In Kansas City we have the T-Mobile center it's not very old just saying

[@justininman9026]

i might move back home to ky if they get an nba team

[@rlp4028]

If Pittsburgh got a team, we already know they're wearing black and yellow.