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Exploring potential NBA expansion teams and their impact
Sospeter Itolondo
updated at July 13, 2023 at 5:56 AM
The NBA is a constantly growing league with more and more cities wanting to join. There have been numerous of NBA expansion teams, as the league only had 11 sides at its inception. Is the NBA thinking of expanding, and what will the ultimate decision be? Read on to learn more about NBA expansion.
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Given the recent comments of the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, NBA expansion in 2024 is not ruled out. The league is expected to expand to more than the 30 clubs present. Here is more about possible NBA expansion teams.
NBA expansion teams in 2024
The NBA commissioner has hinted at a possible NBA expansion in 2024. The league is expected to add more teams to 30 existing sides. The expansion may include new clubs and bring back franchises like the Seattle SuperSonics.
Some of the potential new NBA expansion teams include:
Las Vegas
The city has excellent clubs, such as the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Aces, and Las Vegas Raiders, which have performed at a high level. The clubs have also been backed by LeBron James, which boosts their bid.
Seattle
They are the second favourite to join the NBA, as they already have their arena and a buzzing fanbase. Their side left the city due to lacking public funding to build an arena and moved to Oklahoma City.
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Mexico City
The commissioner hinted at Mexico City joining the league. Rumours of Mexico joining the league have been in the air.
Other cities that could provide new NBA expansion teams include Vancouver, Kansas City, Louisville, and Paris.
NBA expansion teams' history
The NBA has been subject to various expansions that have led to the growth of the league and the athletes. Its first expansion period was between 1961 and 1974, when nine sides joined the franchise. The teams that joined included:
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Team | Year of expansion |
The Chicago Packers (Now known as the Washington Wizards) | 1961 |
Los Angeles Lakers (Formerly known as the Minneapolis Lakers) | 1960 |
San Francisco Warriors (Now known as the Golden State Warriors) | 1962 |
San Diego Rockets (Now known as the Houston Rockets) | 1967 |
Seattle SuperSonics (Now known as the Oklahoma City Thunders) | 1967 |
Phoenix Suns | 1968 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 1968 |
Atlanta Hawks (Formerly known as St. Louis Hawks) | 1968 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 1970 |
Buffalo Braves | 1970 |
Portland Trailblazers | 1970 |
The second expansion period happened between 1976 and 1980 when four teams joined. This happened when the NBA and ABA merged into one league. Here are some of the teams to join the league:
Team | Year of expansion |
New York Nets (Now known as Brooklyn Nets) | 1976 |
Indiana Pacers | 1976 |
San Antonio Spurs | 1976 |
Denver Nuggets | 1976 |
New Orleans Jazz (Now known as Utah Jazz) | 1974 |
Dallas Mavericks | 1980 |
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The most significant expansion happened between 1988 and 2004. The teams to join the league include:
Team | Year of expansion |
Miami Heat | 1988 |
Charlotte Hornets | 1988 |
Orlando Magic | 1989 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 1989 |
Toronto Raptors | 1995 |
Vancouver Grizzlies (Known as the Memphis Grizzlies) | 1995 |
New Orleans Pelicans | 2002 |
How do NBA expansion teams get players?
After expansion, an expansion draft is administered for the teams to fill their roster. The teams are also allowed to choose unprotected players. However, teams in expansion can only protect a maximum of eight players.
What is an expansion team in the NBA?
An expansion team is a new team that joins the league from a city that did not have one. The teams help to increase the revenue and reach of the league.
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NBA expansion is usually a chance for cities to join the lucrative franchise. It allows the league to grow and accommodate more talented athletes. The league has grown, with the biggest boom between 1988 and 2004.
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READ ALSO: Chicago Bulls retired numbers: How many numbers have the Bulls retired?
Sports Brief also published a list of retired numbers by the Chicago Bulls. The team is known for its rich history of great players like Michael Jordan.
What are some of the retired numbers from the great Franchise? Click on the link above to find out.
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