NBA owners approve vote to explore Las Vegas, Seattle expansion bid

The National Basketball Association has taken a formal step toward potential expansion, with team owners unanimously approving a measure to explore adding franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. 

The decision by the NBA’s Board of Governors initiates a structured process to evaluate expansion beyond the current 30 teams, including inviting prospective ownership groups to submit bids and development plans. The league emphasized that expansion is not guaranteed and could result in zero, one, or two new teams.

“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,” Commissioner Adam Silver said. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”

The NBA has engaged PJT Partners as a strategic adviser to assess potential markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and broader economic implications.

Expansion fees are expected to be at least $6 billion. The early expectation is that both teams will fetch between $7 billion and $10 billion, and both markets are expected to land in the top eight by revenue generation.

However, adding teams would dilute the current revenue-sharing pool among existing franchises, an issue that has drawn debate among owners.

“There are some owners who felt that we just frankly don’t need to expand,” Silver said. “They didn’t necessarily seem concerned going forward, but they felt we’re at a very solid place with the 30-team league we have now.”

The earliest timeline for new teams to begin play is the 2028–29 season, though final approvals and logistical steps could take several years.

Las Vegas has long been considered a leading candidate for expansion, with ties to the NBA dating back decades through its hosting of the Summer League and, more recently, the NBA Cup finals. The city’s status as a major sports hub is also growing, with the gambling hub now home to the NFL’s Raiders, NHL’s Golden Knights, and WNBA’s Aces, with Major League Baseball’s Athletics set to arrive in the coming years.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo welcomed the move: “Today’s vote by the NBA Board of Governors is a testament to the incredible growth we’re seeing in Southern Nevada and our state’s business-friendly environment.”

He added: “Las Vegans have already shown unwavering support for our professional sports franchises, and a new NBA team will provide even more entertainment, more jobs, and more small business growth for the region.”

Potential ownership interest in Las Vegas includes groups linked to Magic Johnson and businessman Bill Foley, among others. Arena development remains a key issue, with options such as T-Mobile Arena requiring upgrades to meet NBA specifications.

Seattle, which was home to the Seattle SuperSonics before the team relocated in 2008, has long sought a return to the league. The city is widely regarded as a strong basketball market with deep fan support.

The expansion process will also require the league to address competitive balance. Both Las Vegas and Seattle franchises would likely join the Western Conference, potentially prompting a current team such as New Orleans, Memphis or Minnesota to shift to the Eastern Conference.

The league said expansion is not guaranteed and will depend on the outcome of its evaluation process, including economic implications, ownership bids, and competitive considerations discussed by team owners.