Adam Silver: NBA's European expansion plan needs 'a lot of work'

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says that while the league will continue to look at the possibility of expanding overseas, but nothing is imminent

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says that while the league will continue to look at the possibility of expanding overseas, nothing is imminent because any plan would need "a lot of work."

Silver discussed several league matters before Thursday's game between the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks at London's O2 Arena. It is the fifth regular-season game to be held in London. Last season, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks in London.

Silver said that the league will continue to look at ways to bring a franchise to Europe, and that the first step for any overseas plan is to bring more regular season games to London.

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"It is on our list as something that we continue to explore, but we do not want to get ahead of ourselves. It is something we continue to study," Silver told the BBC. "There is an opportunity to bring NBA basketball to Europe on a permanent basis. It is something we ultimately want to do, but a lot of work needs to be done."

Silver says there are also opportunities for league growth in China, India and South Africa.

"We are seeing sporting barriers come down," he said. "The world is becoming smaller because of technology and media. We are in a global market."

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