30 teams are currently playing in the NBA, soon it could be more. The team owners confirmed discussion about an expansion of the league.
How Commissioner Adam Silver announced, the owners of the teams spoke for the first time at a meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday to expand the league beyond the existing 30 teams. The number of teams in the North American basketball league has been changed again and again in history, but since 2004 it has always been 15 games in the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
According to Silver, however, no more than a profound analysis of such a scenario was decided. “It is a significant step that we are now carrying out this thorough analysis”said Silver. At the same time he added: “Nothing has been carved into stone in one way or another. There is no specific schedule. We also have the obligation to carry out an expansion if we do it very carefully.”
| Period | Team |
|---|---|
1946 – 1947 | 11 |
1947 – 1948 | 8 |
1948 – 1949 | 12 |
1949 – 1950 | 17 |
1950 – 1951 | 11 |
1951 – 1953 | 10 |
1953 – 1955 | 9 |
1955 – 1961 | 8 |
1961 – 1966 | 9 |
1966 – 1967 | 10 |
1967 – 1968 | 12 |
1968 – 1970 | 14 |
1970 – 1974 | 17 |
1974 – 1976 | 18 |
1976 – 1980 | 22 |
1980 – 1988 | 23 |
1988 – 1989 | 25 |
1989 – 1995 | 27 |
1995 – 2004 | 29 |
2004 – today | 30 |
The NBA has recently sold its media rights for eleven years from the 2025/26 season for the sum of $ 76 billion (approximately 70 billion euros). Are involved in the deal Walt Disney, NBC Universal and Amazonthat will also show games in Germany in the future. In the event of an extension, the team owners would have to share these income with new partners.
Seattle new? “Incredible market”
In 2004 they were Charlotte Bobcats (Charlotte today Hornets) when the last team so far. Before that, the NBA had been expanded by six teams in just seven years from 1988 to 1995.
One possibility for a new team would be in Seattleafter the long residents Supersonics 2008 after Oklahoma City had moved and today as the current NBA master Oklahoma City Thunder are known. Silver described Seattle as one “Incredible market”.
Detlef Schrempf in the Seattle Supersonics jersey
League in Europe as a further topic
Another topic at the meeting of the NBA bosses was a possible league in Europe. “There is another kind of expansion, namely the European possibility”said Silver. The NBA and the World Association Fiba had already expressed their interest in a European branch in spring. According to Silver, however, it would be one “Independent league” act.