Why it’s time for NBA Expansion
The NBA’s increase in popularity, the recent trends toward younger teams and the continuous surge of freakishly talented up-and-comers all lead to one conclusion: the Association is ready for its first expansion since 2004.
In many ways, the NBA has never been better. The fragmentation of the media in the 21st century means TV ratings won’t reflect it, but the popularity of the Association has grown in recent years with some speculating it could soon pass the MLB as the nation’s second-most popular sport. Last year’s NBA Finals was the most-watched since 1998, and the rest of the world is watching like never before as well.
Expanding the NBA from 30 to 32 teams would lead to huge increases in revenue for teams and owners, a larger fanbase in two cities and more opportunities for fringe NBA players. NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged in 2017 that NBA expansion is inevitable, and the real question is when, not if, the NBA will expand.
Despite what old-school NBA fans say, the Association has never been filled with younger, more talented players. The average age of NBA players has steadily declined in the past two decades: from 27.8 in 1998, to 26.9 in 2008, to 26.5 in 2018. This season’s average age mark of 26.5 is tied with the 2014 and 2006 seasons as the lowest since 1985.
Just last year, the rebuilding Phoenix Suns rolled out the youngest starting lineup in NBA history at just over 21 years. Ever since the implementation of the one-and-done rule in 2006, it seems players are coming out of college sooner than ever. The days of top prospects spending three or four years in school seem to be gone, which means NBA teams aren’t seeing as players develop in college as much as they’d like to.
It’s clear the NBA is not only getting younger, but more talented thanks to increased competition from overseas, domestic programs like AAU basketball camps and improved training and conditioning. Simply put, basketball hybrids known as “unicorns” like Giannis Antetokounmpo, affectionately known as the “Greek Freak”, Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid didn’t exist 10 or 20 years ago.
Point guards with seven-foot wingspans, 6’10 ball handlers and big men who can knock down 30 footers with ease are popping out of nowhere. Even the worst teams in the NBA like the Suns, Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic have potential superstars on the roster, which speaks to the incredible depth of NBA talent.
The average NBA career length is just under five years, and expansion would provide more opportunities for both up-and-comers and veterans to make a living in professional basketball.
In the current landscape of sports and entertainment, it can be difficult to keep the interest of a fanbase during a long rebuild. Many 19 and 20-year old players leave early from college to make money as professionals but aren’t fully developed, and there’s not enough roster spots around the Association for all of these promising players to develop.
Additionally, with so many one-and-done college players entering the NBA on cheap deals, it can be tough for veteran player to keep their jobs. While the 19 and 20-year olds mentioned above could grow in the newly rebranded G-League, there are far fewer options for seasoned players to extend their careers.
When the NBA does decide to expand in the next few years, these two cities are obvious choices to host the new franchises.
Seattle
Ever since the departure of the Supersonics in 2008 to Oklahoma City, the Seattle fanbase has been clamoring for the return of their beloved team. This choice is so obvious, even Silver said last year that Seattle would be one of the first cities to get a new NBA team.
A new team would give the Association an even stronger presence in the Pacific Northwest, especially since Vancouver also lost its team in 2001. The only foreseeable problem is funding for an arena, which is the reason the Sonics left a decade ago. However, if the NBA decides to expand, it’s almost inconceivable that the city wouldn’t be able to get something done to make the Emerald City a home for professional basketball.
Las Vegas
A few years ago, this would’ve been an odd choice for a professional team, but after the success of the NHL’s Golden Knights and the relocation of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders in 2020, it’s clear Sin City is a strong candidate to host an NBA team. Las Vegas gets over 40 million visitors per year, many of which are young, and there is an existing infrastructure in place for the city to attract even more visitors.
Like Seattle, the NBA also has a relationship with the city, as Las Vegas has hosted the NBA’s Summer League since 2004. The Association has an NBA team in Canada and has made a foray into Mexico and China, but expanding out of the country poses much larger risks and higher travel costs. As one of the entertainment hubs of the nation, it’s safe to say Vegas will be ready for the NBA when the NBA is ready to expand.
-James Faris
Check out my website on Medium and my Twitter (@JFarisSports.)
