Famous sports podcaster Bill Simmons believes New York Knicks owner James Dolan is the main obstacle preventing the NBA from expanding to 32 teams.
The NBA has been holding off on expansion for over two decades. The last time a new team was added was in 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets) became the league’s 30th franchise.
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Several cities have been rumored as potential sites for future expansion teams, with Seattle and Las Vegas consistently mentioned as frontrunners.
While adding new franchises would broaden the league's reach, it also means that existing teams would need to share media rights revenue with more stakeholders.
According to famous NBA podcaster Bill Simmons, this is a major sticking point for at least one influential owner who opposes expansion for that reason.
On The Bill Simmons Podcast, NBA writer Chris Mannix expressed confidence that the league will expand within the next three years. In response, Simmons revealed what he believes is the main reason for the delay.
"We're going to get two expansion teams probably in the next three years. I think the NBA is going to step on the gas with the expansion now that the Lakers sold for $10 billion," Mannix said.
"You know who's roadblocking them right now? James Dolan (New York Knicks owner)," Simmons stated. "He's got a little cabal of anti-expansion owners that he's trying to just do, because he doesn't want to."
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"He doesn't want to share the media rights. But James Dolan doesn't want to share anything," he added.
"He votes no at every single board of governors. Go back and look at some of these meetings. Like how many of them are 29 to one? He sends his consigliere in because he doesn't really go to vote. I think he has a couple of people this time though," Simmons noted.
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