The NBA Board of Governors has officially approved exploring expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, targeting the 2028-29 season. League insiders confirm it’s now “when, not if.”
Seattle would welcome back NBA basketball after the SuperSonics’ 1979 championship reign ended with their 2008 relocation to Oklahoma City as the Thunder. Las Vegas, once excluded from major sports due to gambling concerns, will soon host all four major leagues: Golden Knights (NHL, 2017), Raiders (NFL, 2020), Athletics (MLB, 2028), and now an NBA franchise.
Franchise bids start at $7 billion, potentially reaching $10 billion. LeBron James, previously eyeing ownership in Vegas, has withdrawn from pursuit, citing cost and shifting priorities. His Fenway Sports Group partnership remains intact.
This marks the NBA’s first expansion since 2004, when Charlotte regained a team after New Orleans relocated the original Hornets - now the Pelicans. Las Vegas previously hosted the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.