NBA Commissioner Adam Silver talked about Las Vegas basketball and its history. Of it being a major reason the league’s Board Of Governors this week voted to explore expansion in Southern Nevada.
And you can’t debate such without UNLV being a major part of the narrative.
The Hardway Eight. The Final Four appearances. The magical time of 1990. All the great players. Jerry Tarkanian.
But such success has for a while now fallen on hard times. The Rebels haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and a majority of its fan base can best be described as apathetic.
And that’s on a good night, when thousands of red seats remain empty inside the Thomas & Mack Center for UNLV games.
Need a footprint
It makes you wonder: Should the NBA indeed arrive here with an expansion franchise, would that make Rebels basketball even more of an afterthought for many?
Would some who still follow UNLV with the hope that things will soon be better become more interested in a local professional franchise?
It’s debatable. If finances play any part in such a decision, NBA games are going to set you back far more than what you might find upstairs at the Thomas & Mack.
But the mere question returns us to an obvious point: No matter how much interest an NBA team might take from UNLV, the Rebels are still struggling to regain a footprint in a town where major league sports seemingly adds another team by the hour.
Josh Pastner likes the idea of Las Vegas and the NBA. A lot.
The coach who just concluded his first season directing the UNLV program sees nothing but positives about it.
“Absolutely,” Pastner said. “We’re already the Sports Capital of the World and we’re also the Basketball Capital of the World. You have Summer League and USA Basketball and pros coming here to train. I think this would add even more positivity to the community, to the city, to basketball recruiting.
“We would absolutely include (an NBA team) in our recruiting pitch. Every player that comes here or anywhere in the world — their ultimate goal is to play in the NBA. I think it would open up more opportunities in recruiting and to be involved with more players and more connections and more contacts and more foot traffic coming through here. It would be significant.
“I know I’m a glass overflowing type of guy, but that’s just how I view it.”
He also understands well the problem. That the interest in UNLV basketball has more than waned. The announced average attendance for Pastner’s first season was 5,374.
UNLV will introduce several seating changes next season, but one that won’t occur is the blocking off the upper level. The school reportedly wants to maintain entry-level season-ticket prices in such sections.
Then they better win a whole lot more, because that place up there is a morgue some nights.
UNLV finished its season 18-17 and made the second round of the NIT. Already, rising player Tyrin Jones has announced he will return for his sophomore season. The Rebels are still awaiting word from leading scorer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn on his future plans.
But it’s imperative things move forward. That more success is delivered. That somehow interest of those fans still intently following the program and those who aren’t see progress.
The NBA is likely coming. How that might affect UNLV basketball is anyone’s guess at this point. But the Rebels have more important issues to deal with right now.
Win meaningful games
Engagement has been lacking for some time. There is little student section to speak of, certainly not when compared to some other conference schools. Pastner believes UNLV needs to think outside the box when it comes to in-game entertainment.
That energy within the area needs to match that of his team.
That the market can handle all these teams. That certain variables — ones we have heard about often — will translate into support.
“Getting the Thomas & Mack full again comes with winning and being successful,” Pastner said. “I think it just comes down to — and I’ve said this — that we have to win and be playing meaningful games in February. That means you’re competing for a league championship or you’re trying to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team.
“Those types of things help (in terms of attendance) and then that will take care of itself. It doesn’t matter what else is in the city.”
Then he knows what must occur.
It has been the toughest part for years now.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.