NBA to Decide on Adding Two Expansion Teams in 2026, Commissioner Says
SLUG: nba-expansion-decision-2026
CONTENT:
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league expects to determine in 2026 whether it will admit two new U.S.–based franchises, setting the first clear timetable for expansion since the idea was raised before the 2020-21 season.
Speaking Tuesday evening at a press conference before the NBA Cup championship game in Las Vegas, Silver confirmed that league officials are “continuing to look at” potential markets, with Las Vegas and Seattle at the top of the list. “I don’t want to be teasing these markets,” he said, adding that expansion requires a complex economic analysis because each current owner’s stake would shift from one-thirtieth to one-thirty-second of the league.
Silver explained that the NBA is working with its existing teams to gauge interest, study local financial projections and develop pro formas for possible franchises. “Sometime in 2026 we’ll make a determination,” he said.
After the press conference, Silver told reporters the focus remains primarily on Las Vegas and Seattle. He noted Seattle’s history with the former SuperSonics and pointed to Las Vegas’ experience hosting NBA Summer League for two decades, housing the WNBA’s Aces and staging the league’s inaugural in-season tournament. “I have no doubt Las Vegas could support an NBA team,” Silver said.
The commissioner also touched on other matters, including ongoing WNBA collective-bargaining talks, Chris Paul’s departure from the Clippers and the league’s current injury landscape. In a separate appearance on the “NBA on Prime” pregame show, Silver said future NBA Cup finals might be played outside Las Vegas, mentioning that Amazon Prime had suggested historic college arenas as possible sites. The first three championship games were held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Source: Hoops Rumors
