National Basketball Association owners have made it clear: they are ready to explore adding new franchises to the current 30-team roster.
The first cities on their lips during the NBA Board of Governors meeting on March 24-25, when the votes were cast, were Las Vegas and Seattle, both regarded as the most likely candidates.
“I think Seattle and Las Vegas, in terms of their history and support of NBA basketball, are unique in terms of available markets in the US right now,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explained, adding, “No knock on any other markets. Those are just the markets we’re focused on.”
No Surprise
The decision to expand the NBA has been on the table for years, steadily building momentum, and while the process has been officially kick-started, nothing is certain just yet.
For Seattle, the move would carry plenty of emotional weight, as the city lost the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 when the team relocated to Oklahoma City as the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ever since, fans have been waiting for the NBA to return. Local support has never faded, and the city remains one of the largest US markets without a team.
In parallel, Las Vegas has gradually become a major sports hub, courtesy of the NBA holding its Summer League there for many years, turning the event into a key stop for players, coaches, and executives.
Big teams like the Raiders and the Golden Knights are already based in the city, which would make the addition of an NBA franchise feel like a natural next step.
Exploratory Phase
However, expansion is far from guaranteed, as the league has only approved an exploratory phase. This translates to the following: potential ownership groups now have to offer detailed bids, including plans for arenas, finances, and long-term stability.
The NBA also has to review the broader impact, including the way adding teams could possibly influence talent distribution and league balance.
Expansion fees are expected to reach at least $6 billion per team, or, as projected by industry insiders and ESPN, anywhere between $7 billion and $10 billion.
If given the green light, the new teams could begin play in the 2028-29 season at the earliest. Finally, the addition of two Western Conference teams would logically require shifting one existing franchise to the Eastern Conference as a way of keeping things balanced. The shortlist would include cities like New Orleans, Memphis, or Minnesota.
