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.”