Silver acknowledged the growth of basketball’s popularity in Canada, crediting the Toronto Raptors for establishing themselves as “Canada’s team.”
He noted the ongoing interest from Montreal and Vancouver, highlighting the increasing talent pool with 27 active Canadians in the NBA. The success of the Canadian men’s basketball team at the FIBA World Cup, winning a bronze medal, further emphasizes the country’s rising prominence in the sport. Silver sees the shift from a predominantly hockey market to a growing love for basketball among young Canadians, suggesting potential opportunities for expansion in the future.