NBA Governors to Vote on Exploring Expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas
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The NBA’s Board of Governors is expected to hold a vote next week on whether to formally investigate adding franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
If owners authorize the study, the league would open a bidding process for two new teams that could debut in the 2028-29 season. A second vote would be required later to finalize expansion, with at least 23 of the 30 current owners needing to approve both measures.
League sources told ESPN there is growing support inside the NBA office and among team owners to limit expansion efforts to those two markets. Industry analysts estimate each new club could command a fee between $7 billion and $10 billion.
Seattle is widely viewed as a leading candidate after losing the SuperSonics in 2008, when the franchise relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Las Vegas has emerged as a major sports hub in recent years, already hosting the NFL’s Raiders, the NHL’s Golden Knights and the WNBA’s Aces.
The NBA last expanded in 2004, when it added what is now the New Orleans Pelicans. League officials have previously suggested a final decision on expansion could arrive sometime in 2026.
Source: Hoops Wire
