The NBA has officially taken its first concrete step toward expansion in more than two decades, with all 30 team owners voting to explore potential franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. The unanimous decision signals a significant shift for the league, which is now formally evaluating bids that could reshape its footprint as early as the 2028–29 season.
According to ESPN, the exploration phase will focus exclusively on Las Vegas and Seattle, with a competitive bidding process expected to yield franchise valuations of $7-$10 billion per team.
The vote initiates a broader evaluation process that includes ownership groups, arena readiness, and long-term economic impact, with investment bank PJT Partners brought in as a strategic adviser.
The move reflects years of momentum building behind both markets. Las Vegas has steadily grown into a major sports hub, hosting the NBA Summer League since 2004 and serving as the home of the WNBA’s Aces since 2018. Seattle, meanwhile, has been without an NBA franchise since the SuperSonics relocated in 2008, but sustained fan demand and a modernized Climate Pledge Arena have kept the city firmly in the league’s expansion plans.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the decision in a statement, saying, “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.” He added that the league is “looking forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties” as the process unfolds.
Expansion has increasingly been viewed internally as inevitable, with league officials describing it as a matter of timing rather than possibility. The NBA last added a team in 2004, and recent surges in franchise valuations — including multi-billion-dollar sales of teams like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers — have further strengthened the financial case for expansion.
Las Vegas, in particular, has been on the NBA’s radar for decades, hosting marquee events such as the 2007 All-Star Game and serving as a testing ground for new league initiatives like the NBA Cup. Seattle’s case is equally rooted in history, with nearly two decades of lobbying by fans and local leaders following the SuperSonics’ departure.
If the process moves forward, the league is expected to expand to 32 teams, likely triggering conference realignment to maintain competitive balance. A final vote on expansion could take place later this year, requiring approval from at least 23 of the 30 owners.
