The NBA Board of Governors had previously authorized discussions on expanding the league into Las Vegas and Seattle back in March. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, this process is now progressing, with updates shared during Tuesday's NBA Today.
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Charania reported that the NBA, under Commissioner Adam Silver's leadership, is advancing in their expansion talks, particularly for Las Vegas, where the next round of bids for an expansion team are due on Thursday. Final bids are anticipated shortly after that. Proposals for a team in Las Vegas are reportedly reaching or exceeding $10 billion. While the expansion process in Las Vegas has moved more quickly than in Seattle, discussions regarding a Seattle team continue.
The league is aiming for the new teams to debut in the 2028-29 season, with projections suggesting both would rank among the top 10 in market size and revenue share. The timeline for a final vote on expansion remains unclear, but clarity on the offers—estimated at around $10 billion for Las Vegas and around $7 billion for Seattle—may emerge in the coming months.
Historically, Seattle hosted the SuperSonics from 1967 until 2008, winning three Western Conference titles and one NBA championship before the team relocated to Oklahoma City. The city has a strong sports culture, supporting various successful professional franchises.
Las Vegas is recognized for hosting the NBA's annual summer league, taking place each July at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, and it also hosts significant NBA events at T-Mobile Arena. The city has cultivated a vibrant professional sports scene with teams like the Golden Knights, Aces, and Raiders, and the Athletics are expected to join in 2028.
Among the potential ownership groups for a Las Vegas team, Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal highlighted a consortium led by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley and another group led by former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo. Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband, Bill, are also reportedly in the mix, along with an unidentified fourth group.
Regarding Seattle, Commissioner Silver praised Climate Pledge Arena, home of the WNBA's Storm and NHL's Kraken, noting it may require some adjustments for NBA use but is otherwise ready for a team. Silver emphasized that, while discussions have focused more on Las Vegas, he expects multiple bidders in both cities.
The entity One Roof Sports and Entertainment, launched by Seattle Kraken ownership, has already emerged as a potential candidate for an NBA team in Seattle, with CEO Tod Leiweke confirming their intent to pursue ownership. Despite the ongoing discussions, it remains a work in progress before the establishments of teams in both cities become a reality.