The NBA has had 30 franchises since 2004. Twenty-one years, and counting, is the longest stretch without expansion by 12 years. Yet, the league generates more than $10 billion in revenue. In 2025, the league signed a media rights deal projected at $75 billion. Seattle and Las Vegas are ready with fans and money. Meanwhile, five of the top 10 picks in the 2024 draft played stints in the NBA G League. The talent pool exceeds roster sizes and the market is growing. It’s not just time; an NBA expansion is embarrassingly overdue.
A version of this article appears in print on page 7 of Volume 95, Issue 5, published May 27, 2025.
