MEXICO CITY — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he would “personally love to have” a franchise in Mexico City, the largest city in North America, as the league has begun the process internally to consider expansion.
“I believe if we were to come here, we would be Mexico’s team, not just Mexico City,” Silver said Saturday before the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards played the NBA’s 33rd regular or preseason game in the Mexican capital, home to more than 20 million people.
Silver said expansion, whether it would be to Mexico City or another destination, was “something we will look at over time” and there was no deadline or target time frame to add a 31st or 32nd franchise.
“I don’t think it’s something we’re ready to do yet,” Silver said.
The NBA added the Mexico City Capitanes to the G League, who will begin their third season next week.
Saturday night’s game between the Heat and Wizards falls on a major national holiday in Mexico — Day of the Dead — adding extra flair and excitement to what has become an annual tradition of the NBA playing games in Mexico City.
Additionally, the Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., born in California, has a Mexican father. There have only been five Mexican-born players in NBA history.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Adam Glanzman / Getty Images)
