Reducing the current number of 30 franchises is one of the options the league will discuss with players as they negotiate a new labour agreement to replace the current deal, set expire in June.
“The league is viable as long as you have owners who want to continue funding losses,” Stern said. “But it’s not in the long-term a sustainable business model that we’re happy to be supporting.”
“That's a subject that will be on the table with the players as we look to see what’s the optimum way to present our game. Are there cities and teams that cannot make it in the current economic environment?”
Stern reinforced the league’s commitment to the “small market” teams and said the new collective bargaining agreement would require much more robust revenue sharing.
He suggested the NBA needs to cut player income by $750 to $800 million.
