TITLE: NBA chief reiterates support for Memphis, open to select Grizzlies games in Nashville
SLUG: nba-silver-memphis-commitment-nashville-games
CONTENT:
New York, Apr. 22, 2026 — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that the league remains firmly anchored in Memphis while encouraging the idea of the Grizzlies staging a handful of regular-season contests in Nashville to broaden their statewide appeal.
Speaking on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, Silver called Memphis “a great market historically for the NBA” and stressed that “there’s no reason why the Memphis Grizzlies can’t be successful.” He added that owner Robert Pera “has no interest in moving the team out of Memphis” and has communicated that stance to the league.
The commissioner’s remarks followed recent comments by LeBron James, who on another podcast said he disliked playing road games in Memphis and suggested Nashville as an alternative home. Silver acknowledged Nashville’s growth, saying he would “love for them to play a few games a year in Nashville and sort of be Tennessee’s team.”
The Grizzlies have conducted training camp in Nashville the past two seasons but have never taken a regular-season game there. By comparison, the San Antonio Spurs have scheduled two home games annually in Austin, Texas, in recent years.
Silver also dismissed the notion that players avoid Memphis. “Players I talk to all the time like playing in Memphis,” he said, noting that past gripes have mainly focused on hotel options rather than the city itself.
The team’s lease at FedExForum expires in 2029. Negotiations with municipal officials to extend the agreement are ongoing, and plans call for a $550 million renovation financed by city, state and private contributions.
While the NBA continues to study possible expansion franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, Silver reiterated that no existing teams are slated for relocation.
Source: ESPN
