- NBA Teams Coming to Las Vegas & Seattle
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NBA Teams Coming to Las Vegas & Seattle
The NBA is closer to expanding beyond its current 30 teams, with Las Vegas and Seattle emerging as the clear frontrunners for the league’s next two franchises.
Current status
Early 2026, the NBA Board of Governors voted to formally begin the expansion process focused on Seattle and Las Vegas. Commissioner Adam Silver has since said the league is targeting the 2028–29 NBA season for the debut of two new teams, with a final expansion decision expected before the end of 2026.
Why Seattle?
Seattle is widely considered the favorite because:
- The city lost the Seattle SuperSonics when the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.
- It is the largest U.S. media market without an NBA team.
- Climate Pledge Arena is already NBA-ready after a major renovation.
- The arena has hosted NBA preseason games and other league events.
- Seattle Kraken owner Samantha Holloway has assembled an ownership group and secured majority control of Climate Pledge Arena to strengthen the city’s bid.
If Seattle receives a franchise, the expectation is that the team would revive the historic Seattle SuperSonics name, colors, and branding, pending NBA approval. The Oklahoma City Thunder have previously agreed that Seattle’s basketball history would return to a new Seattle franchise.
Why Las Vegas?
Las Vegas has become one of America’s fastest-growing sports markets.
The city already hosts:
- NFL’s Raiders
- NHL’s Golden Knights
- WNBA’s Aces
- MLB’s Athletics (scheduled to arrive in 2028)
Las Vegas also hosts:
- NBA Summer League
- NBA Cup semifinal and championship games
Those events have demonstrated strong fan support and the city’s ability to host major basketball events.
Ownership groups competing for Las Vegas
Several high-profile groups are pursuing the Las Vegas franchise, including:
- Jerry Colangelo’s Las Vegas Jacks ownership group
- Golden Knights owner Bill Foley
- A group reportedly involving Magic Johnson
- Investor groups connected to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner
- Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry has also shown interest.
How much could expansion cost?
Industry estimates suggest each expansion franchise could cost between $7 billion and $10 billion, making these potentially the most expensive expansion fees in North American sports history. Some ownership groups are reportedly preparing bids exceeding those estimates.
What happens next?
If expansion is officially approved:
- The NBA finalizes ownership groups.
- Expansion fees are paid.
- An expansion draft is held, allowing the new teams to select players from existing NBA rosters (with protection rules similar to previous expansion drafts).
- The 2028 NBA Draft would include both expansion franchises.
- Seattle and Las Vegas would begin play in the 2028–29 season.
What this means for the NBA
Adding Seattle and Las Vegas would:
- Increase the league from 30 to 32 teams
- Restore basketball to one of its most passionate former NBA cities
- Expand into one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports markets
- Likely require conference realignment to maintain competitive balance
- Generate billions in expansion revenue for current NBA owners through expansion fees.
