Stern regrets Vancouver expansion

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Given another chance, NBA commissioner David Stern would have handled the league’s foray into Vancouver differently.

In a podcast interview with ESPN.com, Stern was asked what decisions he would take a mulligan on over the course of his 24 years on the job.

"I wish we hadn’t had the Vancouver experience," Stern replied. "Great city, and we disappointed them, and we disappointed ourselves."

The league expanded into Toronto and Vancouver in 1995. The Vancouver Grizzlies amassed a 101-359 record in six seasons before moving to Memphis in 2001.

Stern said he thought the league might have mishandled the expansion.

"Maybe we shouldn’t have done it there, maybe we should have only expanded into Toronto … but that was a great disappointment to me," he said.

Stern added that he didn’t think the league could return to Vancouver.

"I don’t think we can go back," Stern said. "I think that was a great city, and I think we just didn’t take advantage of the opportunity."

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