The NBA has officially taken its biggest step yet toward expansion. All 30 team owners voted in favor of exploring expansion opportunities in Las Vegas and Seattle, signaling a long-held belief among many in the league that expansion is no longer a matter of if, but when.
“Today's vote reflects our board's interest in exploring the possibility of expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We look forward to taking the next steps and engaging with interested parties.”
The decision begins a formal process that will ultimately see the league expand from 30 to 32 teams. Expansion bids for each team are expected to be between $7 billion and $10 billion, according to ESPN sources, underscoring just how valuable NBA teams have become in recent years.
The league has targeted the 2028-29 season as a potential starting point for the new team, but no final decision has been made. A second vote will be required later in the process, requiring at least 23 of the 30 owners to approve the move.
To guide the process, the NBA hired investment bank PJT Partners to evaluate potential ownership groups, arena situations and the broader financial impact of expansion.
Las Vegas and Seattle both have strong cases.
Las Vegas has rapidly developed into a major sports center, becoming home to the NFL's Raiders and WNBA's Aces, while also hosting major NBA events in recent years. Seattle, meanwhile, has a deep basketball history but has been without a team since the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.
If expansion is finalized, league executives expect the league to realign, with one of the current Western Conference teams (possibly Minnesota or Memphis) moving to the East to balance the league.
Momentum for expansion is rapidly building as team valuations continue to soar and new markets bring huge financial advantages, and the next era of the NBA could soon include two new cities.
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