NBA senior vice-president Raúl Zárraga spoke to AS about the league’s plans to expand for the first time in over two decades.
This is the latest on a potential Mexico City expansion team in the NBA
The NBA hasn’t taken its eyes off expansion - but a decision isn’t coming anytime soon. According to Raúl Zárraga, senior vice-president of the NBA and the organization’s head of operations in Latin America, the league continues to explore its options without focusing on any one market. Among the candidates still under consideration is Mexico City, which has made a strong case thanks to the success of the Capitanes in the G League.
The Capitanes set a G League attendance record in January 2025, drawing 19,328 fans for a game against the South Bay Lakers. That kind of turnout, combined with the city’s commercial potential, keeps Mexico City firmly on the NBA’s radar. Still, Zárraga emphasized that there are no immediate plans.
“We’re still exploring,” Zárraga said in a group interview with AS USA. “There are many factors to consider when it comes to expansion - geographic location, proximity to the U.S., infrastructure, safety, and the basketball ecosystem. Mexico checks all those boxes. But right now, we’re not focused on any specific market. We’re still defining the strategy and the criteria for expansion. Mexico is in the equation, but there’s nothing concrete to report yet.”
The NBA is taking a cautious approach to what would be its first expansion in over two decades - the last being the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. Commissioner Adam Silver echoed that sentiment during a recent visit to Mexico: “We’re not in expansion mode at the moment. I don’t want to put a specific timeline on it.” Any move is unlikely in the short term. And Mexico City isn’t alone in the conversation - Seattle and Las Vegas have also submitted compelling proposals.
Zárraga downplayed concerns that political tensions between the U.S. and Mexico - over tariffs or immigration - could derail international expansion efforts. “Our focus is on growing the game of basketball. That’s our vision and our priority,” he said. “Basketball is a universal language, regardless of political tone or color. Our goal is to continue developing the league and the sport globally. And we’ve been doing that successfully for years.”
When is the next NBA game in Mexico?
The NBA will return to Mexico on November 1, with a marquee regular-season matchup between the Dallas Mavericks - led by No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg . and the revamped Detroit Pistons, featuring Cade Cunningham and Dennis Schröder. It will be the 15th regular-season NBA game ever played in Mexico.
Unlike the 2017-2019 stretch when the league brought two regular-season games per year to Mexico, this time it’s just one. Zárraga explained that the presence of the Capitanes in the G League has shifted the dynamic. Instead of two NBA games, Mexican fans now get one NBA matchup and 22 G League home games.
“That helps make up for the absence of a second NBA game,” Zárraga said. “I understand the fans’ interest - this market could easily support two, three, even four games. But we also have to recognize the global demand. Just having one game here is a privilege, considering how many countries are willing to pay top dollar to host one. Our strategy is to offer a consistent live basketball experience throughout the season with the Capitanes, not just a weekend or a few days.”
Zárraga also revealed that the NBA is considering expanding its preseason schedule to more international locations, including Mexico. “Right now, we don’t have any preseason games planned,” he said. “They’re in high demand globally, and we’re still exploring opportunities.”
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