Adam Silver and the NBA face their biggest dilemma: more teams, less stability

It looked like the pieces were perfectly aligned and everyone was ready to play. The historic $76 billion TV deal, franchises valued in astronomical figures, and cities like Seattle and Las Vegas rolling out the red carpet. But then, Adam Silver—usually the calm playmaker—hit the brakes. NBA expansion, once seen as inevitable, ran into an unexpected wall: the collapse of regional television models.

Adam Silver didn’t mince words: “The only sector where we’re seeing a real decline is in regional television.” RSNs, once the backbone of local income, are crumbling amid shifting viewer habits and audience fragmentation. In simple terms: if fans can’t reliably watch their teams, adding more markets makes no sense.

An uncertain landscape

The Lakers’ case paints the picture Adam Silver has been trying to explain. Despite their $3 billion deal with Spectrum, the long-term viability of those contracts is increasingly in question. Even with that financial cushion, the Buss family’s cost-cutting moves—like letting Alex Caruso walk—show that even NBA giants aren’t immune from tightening the purse strings.

Things are turbulent across the league. As the Trail Blazers face a possible ownership change, Adam Silver has warned that Portland’s Moda Center—nearly 30 years old—needs a billion-dollar facelift. Who’s ready to foot that bill in an economically fragile city? The expansion project demands more than just fan enthusiasm—it needs steel, concrete, and above all, money.

Diluted economy, tougher rules

For this reason, NBA expansion might not be the best move in a strained economic climate. Every new team means existing revenue must be split even further. And with the new collective bargaining agreement making it harder to build superstar-heavy rosters, the motivation to spend billions fades. Adam Silver even joked about the end of dynasties, name-dropping Sam Presti. But behind the joke is a genuine concern.

Adam Silver: “I’m not ready to declare we’re not gonna have dynasties. I’m sure Sam Presti isn’t ready to hear that.”
pic.twitter.com/TsqFr4pBjy

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) July 16, 2025

While NBA expansion is teetering, another front has caught Adam Silver’s attention: player health. As reported by Essentially Sports, the 2024–25 season was brutal with Achilles tendon injuries. In total, seven serious cases were recorded.

That’s why the league is turning toward the future—and the power of AI. In collaboration with Stanford researchers, Adam Silver says they are developing algorithms to analyze player movements and detect micro-signals that could anticipate injuries. It’s a bold bet, and even Gregg Popovich has signed off on the idea.

What Now?

Returning to the topic of NBA expansion, Adam Silver hasn’t slammed the door shut. But he’s made it clear the league is just beginning its “first day” of deep analysis. With economic, technological, and structural challenges piling up, the dream of new NBA franchises still breathes—but in a haze of instability and tough questions.