Deputy commish: NBA would consider Mexico City for expansion team

Mexico City could be a potential candidate for an NBA team should the league decide to expand.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told Andscape's Marc J. Spears that while the league isn't currently looking at expansion, Mexico City would likely be on the shortlist for consideration.

"Expansion is currently not on the docket, but at some point, if we were to turn to expansion, there's no doubt that Mexico City would have to be one (of) the cities that would be in consideration, along with a host of other very big and relevant cities in North America," Tatum said.

"One of the biggest challenges around international expansion has always been the travel issues, the facility issues. But there is a world-class facility in Mexico City in Arena CDMX, which is where we've been playing our games and our global games in Mexico. And that's actually the home of the G League team, the Capitanes. And so that's not an issue."

Tatum also noted that travel wouldn't be an issue, as Mexico City is a short flight away for several NBA teams.

Mexico is no stranger to the NBA, having hosted a combined 30 preseason and regular-season games. The league will return to Mexico City on Dec. 17 when the San Antonio Spurs take on the Miami Heat.