With the NBA staging what has become an annual game in Mexico City, expansion has been a popular topic of conversation. A day or so after Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum talked about the possibility of adding new teams, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took his turn.

After years of saying expansion was a non-discussion for the NBA, Silver has said it's something the league is starting to look into. However, Silver cautioned putting a timeline on it.

"We want to get a new collective bargaining agreement, our media rights deals are up soon, so we need to renew those, as well, but then we will turn to expansion," Silver said.

Silver also said the NBA will seriously look at Mexico City when it's time to expand. Silver reiterated that there are challenges to adding a franchise outside of the United State but added that Mexico City is well set up to do so. As he has in the past, Silver remarked that Mexico City can be the NBA's gateway to further growth throughout Latin America.

The NBA is set to return to Mexico City on Saturday night. The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat will play in Mexico as part of the NBA's international series.

Part of the appeal of staging games in Mexico is to continue to grow the game of basketball in the country. Basketball is now the second-most played sport in Mexico, behind soccer.

As the sport continues to grow, there is the chance Mexico City could eventually have an NBA franchise of their own.

While saying that expansion isn't in the NBA's immediate plans, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said that Mexico City "has to be in consideration" when the league does expand next.

The NBA G League launched the Mexico City Capitanes last season. COVID-19 restrictions kept the Capitanes from making their debut in their home city until this season. But now the NBA has a chance to see how Mexico City can operate as a professional basketball city.

“G League teams in the United States and Canada are going down there to play,” said Tatum. “So we’re getting that experience of, ‘How does a G League team operate in that market? How are the fans responding to having their own team down there?’ It’s been a great learning experience so far.”