UNLV Coach Optimistic About NBA Arrival, But Knows Rebels Must Win First

Pastner sees positives in NBA expansion, but says Rebels need to improve on-court performance to engage fans.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:50pm

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UNLV head coach Josh Pastner believes the arrival of an NBA team in Las Vegas would be a positive for the city and the Rebels' basketball program, but he acknowledges that his team must start winning more games and engaging fans before the NBA's presence could overshadow the college team.

Why it matters

UNLV basketball has struggled to maintain fan interest in recent years, with the Thomas & Mack Center often half-empty for games. The potential addition of an NBA franchise could further diminish attention on the college team if the Rebels don't start winning and rebuilding their fanbase.

The details

Pastner said he would include the potential NBA team in UNLV's recruiting pitch, believing it would open up more opportunities for players and connections. However, he understands the Rebels' attendance issues, with the announced average attendance for his first season just 5,374. UNLV finished 18-17 and made the second round of the NIT last season. The team is awaiting a decision from leading scorer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn on his future plans.

  • UNLV head coach Josh Pastner just concluded his first season directing the program.

The players

Josh Pastner

The head coach of the UNLV Rebels basketball team.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

UNLV's leading scorer last season, who is still deciding on his future plans.

Tyrin Jones

A rising player for UNLV who has announced he will return for his sophomore season.

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What they’re saying

“Absolutely. 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.”

— Josh Pastner, UNLV Head Coach

“Getting the Thomas & Mack full again comes with winning and being successful. 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.”

— Josh Pastner, UNLV Head Coach

What’s next

UNLV will introduce several seating changes for next season, including maintaining entry-level season-ticket prices in the upper level, in an effort to boost attendance.

The takeaway

While UNLV's head coach is optimistic about the potential arrival of an NBA team in Las Vegas, he knows the Rebels must first focus on improving their on-court performance and re-engaging their fan base before the NBA's presence could overshadow the college program.