NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media at Summer League in Las Vegas.
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LAS VEGAS — The NBA’s appreciation for this ever-burgeoning neon oasis has never been greater.
The NBA Summer League will set records again in attendance and merchandise sales. The event’s collateral benefit has pitched a tent as the league’s all-but-official offseason meetings, an opportunity for review, new business and workshops at every level of the game, from team presidents and referees to trainers and job aspirants across all levels.
The courts at the Thomas & Mack Center and adjoining Pavilion on the UNLV campus are in use from morning till night. Away from those courts, Las Vegas has become an entertainment and social hub for players young and old where they can quiet their rivalries and fraternize freely.
“I’m sure I’ll be asked about a potential expansion franchise in Las Vegas,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters early in his news conference Tuesday. “But I’m fond of saying we already have a franchise here and it’s the Summer League. It’s in essence operated as our 31st team for 22 years, so it’s quite remarkable.
“I think back in the day when other leagues weren’t doing business with Las Vegas, we were here with our Summer League. So again, to [co-founders] Warren [LeGarie] and Albert [Hall], just an amazing accomplishment over the years.”
Silver stated repeatedly that the league’s owners want to decide the next expansion by the end of 2026. Multiple competing ownership groups for teams in Las Vegas and Seattle have already been pitching plans about financing, the principal owners, arena proposals and how they would market the NBA.
The commissioner didn’t tip anyone’s hand Tuesday beyond that. But he did say of Las Vegas: “Something that I wouldn’t have predicted beyond the NBA, it’s become a center of youth basketball in this country right now. Not just the major facilities but the number of courts in town, the trainers and, again, the level of interest. The WNBA, of course, that’s had great success here.
“I really appreciate what we’re seeing so far, so it’s very encouraging. No votes have been taken yet. We’ve got a ways to go in terms of discussions with interested parties, but I’m optimistic about the future here.”
Silver was asked about a wide array of topics, including:
Leonard-Clippers investigation
Silver said he still believes the independent investigation, conclusions and, if applicable, penalties in the Kawhi Leonard-LA Clippers alleged salary-cap circumvention case can be completed before the start of the coming season. A sponsorship contract with Aspiration, a troubled “green” company that deals in conservation and carbon credits, was cited in multiple reports for possibly facilitating millions of dollars in off-the-books payments from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to Leonard.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, a tentative trade that would send Leonard to Toronto for players and Draft picks is on ice until some clarity is known.
Silver said a couple times Tuesday that if Leonard is in line for some penalty – for instance, a suspension or a sanction on his contract – getting traded would not shield him from that.
NBA Europe progress
Also on track: NBA Europe, scheduled to begin play in October 2027. Negotiating cooperation with EuroLeague Basketball continues while groups bidding for teams have emerged.
“Including cities that we didn’t even ask for bids from,” Silver said.
Several European bidders will be in New York for the World Cup soccer championship Sunday. Silver said he and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, overseeing the European project, would meet with them in the coming weeks. Announcements of the chosen cities and bidders would follow.
Portland’s arena deal
Haggling in Portland continues between local officials and new Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon over renovations of Moda Center, where the team plays its games. A deal that Silver approved of in March has yet to be finalized, and the franchise’s long-term future in the city remains uncertain as a result.
“I was hoping more progress would have been made by now on that agreement,” Silver said, “and it seems to have gone off track in various ways.”
Dundon and his partners met with Silver in Las Vegas. The NBA is working with both sides to facilitate the deal.
Competitive balance vs. second apron
A couple of questions were sparked by the Boston Celtics’ trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, with chatter that the collective bargaining agreement – specifically the second “apron” that triggers onerous tax multipliers and transaction limitations – might need attention.
Silver wasn’t so sure, pointing to the competitive balance that has seen eight different franchises win the NBA championship since 2019.
And all 30 teams need to balance basketball and business decisions, all the time.
“Every collective bargaining agreement is a result of a series of compromises,” Silver said. “From my standpoint, from a competitive standpoint, the system is working very well.”
Sports betting regulations
Silver sounded intrigued when a “gambling reporter” from Forbes.com asked for his views on the concept of a federal sports betting commissioner. A former U.S. Attorney reportedly proposed such a position, perhaps in conjunction with the other major professional sports leagues, with investigative and subpoena powers.
The NBA commissioner has long talked about federal oversight as a potential benefit to legalized gambling, taking it out of the shadows. The league has had several recent cases involving players — such as Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley — being charged with conspiring to statistically cheat the system for their own and others’ illegal gain.
“The idea of having some czar or commissioner who could oversee it and would have subpoena powers, powers that the league office doesn’t have when we do those sorts of investigations, I think would be very helpful,” Silver said. “I’m very pro-regulation here … I think more is necessary here to get our arms around this.”
Briefly
• A review of the format used in the 2025 All Star Game – the mini-tournament pitting squads of international and U.S. players in three short games – has been underway since that event, Silver said. Any changes will be locked in by the start of this season.
• The Board of Governors unanimously elected Miami’s Micky Arison as its next Chairman. Arison, who has been a governor for 31 years, will succeed Toronto’s Larry Tanenbaum after the board’s September meeting.
Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
