With the next round of expansion being an almost foregone conclusion that it will be Seattle and Las Vegas, that leaves Vancouver on the outside looking in for the foreseeable future. However, this shouldn’t be the end of Vancouvers professional basketball dreams.
The NBA has been testing out the market in Mexico City by way of the G League. The NBA has a chance to do the same for Vancouver, and possibly even Montreal as Adam Silver did also mention them recently as a place that’s interested in NBA basketball.
With Seattle coming into the league, it makes a ton of sense to put their G League affiliate in Vancouver as it’s just a short drive away. This would allow Vancouver to show their reignited desire for basketball, and give Seattle a super accessible developmental program.
The G League team could play at a few different arenas. Obviously Rogers Arena would be too big, but the Pacific Coliseum is a bit smaller and could allow for easy access to the downtown core. Or they could go another route and play at UBC at the Thunderbird Sports Arena. Langley Events Center is a bit further out but also a viable venue.
Vancouver is starving for basketball, and this could at least be a good consolation prize if we aren’t getting an NBA team for a while.
San Diego should also have a G league team. I’d buy a season ticket.