NBA leadership received authorization Wednesday to investigate bringing professional basketball franchises to Las Vegas and Seattle after the league’s Board of Governors approved expansion discussions.
According to ESPN, potential ownership groups are anticipated to submit bids ranging from $7 billion to $10 billion per team.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver commented on the decision, stating: “Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball. We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”
The expansion discussion required approval from a minimum of 23 out of 30 team governors. League officials did not disclose specific voting tallies from the ongoing New York meetings.
The comprehensive evaluation of prospective owners typically spans several months and includes extensive financial analysis. NBA officials have contracted investment firm PJT Partners to serve as strategic consultants “to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the broader economic implications of expansion.”
Earlier reports indicated the expansion franchises could launch operations during the 2028-29 season.
The SuperSonics represented Seattle in the NBA from the 1967-68 season through 2007-08, capturing a championship in 1979. That franchise eventually moved and transformed into the Oklahoma City Thunder, which claimed a title this past season.
While Las Vegas has hosted various NBA activities for years, including the yearly Summer League tournament, Nevada has never housed a permanent NBA team. The city’s WNBA franchise, the Las Vegas Aces, has operated there since 2018 and secured three championships in the past four years.
The NBA’s most recent expansion occurred in 2004, and adding two franchises may require conference restructuring. Teams currently in the Western Conference — potentially Minnesota, Memphis, or New Orleans — might shift to the Eastern Conference to balance a 32-team structure.
