ADAM SILVER SAYS BLAZERS LEAVING PORTLAND WOULD BE A FAILURE

Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, said he would regard it as "a failure" if the Portland Trail Blazers left the city, though he stopped short of ruling out a move. Speaking at a Board of Governors news conference in New York, Silver addressed the team's future amid stalled talks over renovating the Moda Centre. He said it was his "hope and belief" that the Trail Blazers could remain successful in Portland, and that owner Tom Dundon needed to reach a deal with city and state officials to make operating there viable long-term. He called Portland's supporters among the league's best fans.

Silver said the Moda Centre, which opened in 1995, ranks near the bottom of NBA arenas by modern standards, and that a state-of-the-art venue was needed. He noted the arena also hosts concerts, conventions and graduations, and is used by the WNBA's Portland Fire. Dundon bought the Trail Blazers for $4.25 billion in August 2025 and also owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. His negotiations over funding the renovation have placed him at the centre of the dispute with local officials. Portland City Council approved a nonbinding term sheet in August, though the funding framework remains unresolved.

No NBA franchise has relocated since Silver became commissioner in 2014, a run now facing its most serious test. Silver said he did not want to treat that record "as a point of pride" and was not prejudging the outcome of the Portland talks. The dispute over who funds the Moda Centre upgrade continues between Dundon and city and state officials. Silver said he preferred the Trail Blazers remain in Portland, though no timetable for a resolution has been confirmed.