First Latin American team in the G-League 2021/22

1/15

2.5 billion dollars – that’s how much investors supposedly have to pay to found an expansion team in the NBA. There are supposedly some interested parties. Which cities are the most likely options for expansion?

2/15

SEATTLE: The fans are still mourning their SuperSonics, but they’re still hot for basketball. The team was in Seattle for 41 years before the entire franchise moved to Oklahoma City.

3/15

Back then the problem was to find a new hall. Soon there will be a renovated Climate Pledge Arena and a new NHL team. Commissioner Adam Silver recently praised the city’s “tremendous support” for basketball.

4/15

LAS VEGAS: The money is there, the tourists are up for it and the new T-Mobile Arena is available. The Golden Knights were a success story in the NHL, the NBA will surely have noticed.

5/15

MEXICO CITY: 21 million inhabitants and no competition, that speaks for the Mexican capital. There is also the Mexico City Arena, built in 2012, with 22,300 seats. Unfortunately every other team would have to fly there for at least 2 hours.

6/15

MONTREAL: Investors have long wanted to bring another NBA team to Canada. Montreal is one of the 20 most popular metropolises in North America. With the Bell Center they have a suitable arena, in which the Canadiens from the NHL are currently playing.

7/15

VANCOUVER: Similar to Seattle, the grizzlies are sorely missed here. In addition, a suitable home for the team has already been found in the Rogers Arena.

8/15

LOUISVILLE: Small market, but here too there is no competition from another team from the four major US sports leagues. The KFC Yum! Center (really called that) would also be available.

9/15

KANSAS CITY: Here, too, the right venue, the T-Mobile Center, is already waiting. There have been plenty of NBA preseason and NCAA games here.

10/15

SAN DIEGO: The taxpayers don’t feel like spending their money on a new arena, but the city is beautiful, attracts tourists and has a passionate audience.

11/15

ST. LOUIS: Although baseball is primarily at home here, the market still has another Big4 team.

12/15

ANAHEIM: Lots of investors with deep pockets and the Honda Center are just waiting for an NBA team. However, both the LA Lakers and the Clippers could stand up because they don’t want to divide the market any further.

13/15

AUSTIN: The largest city in the USA that no Big4 team can call its own. But here, too, other Texas franchises could be stressful, especially the nearby San Antonio Spurs.

14/15

SAN JOSE: Tenth largest city in the country, capital is available, but the area belongs to the Warriors. Hard to beat this franchise, especially after moving to San Francisco.

15/15

Wildcard – LONDON: Brexit could have destroyed this wonderful idea, but a mini-chance remains. Everyone enjoys a guest game in The Smoke. In the long run, however, the path is already damned long …