NBA Approves Two Cities for Future Expansion Teams

With the NFL and NHL having expanded to 32 teams, the NBA had long been rumored to be expanding as well. League Commissioner Adam Silver had teased the expansion for years, but on Tuesday, the NBA Board of Governors officially voted to allow the league to explore bids exclusively for teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. NBA Insider Shams Charania reports that the bids for these teams are expected to be in the range of $7-10 billion.

Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has approved a vote for the league to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, sources tell ESPN. A bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range for each team. pic.twitter.com/yEaLPjnTVf

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2026

Many fans are celebrating this move, as it opens the door for basketball to return to Seattle. From 1967 to 2008, the NBA's SuperSonics called Seattle home, bringing the city a championship in 1979. The team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 for financial reasons and rebranded as the Thunder, leaving the Emerald City without an NBA Team. Former NBA All-Star and Seattle-area native Isaiah Thomas showed his excitement on X, adding that he wants to be involved with the team.

Duhhhh! I need in on front office/ownership https://t.co/dctqdQlivH

— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) March 25, 2026

Las Vegas is set to get its first NBA franchise ever, landing its final team from the Big Four leagues. A decade ago, Las Vegas had no professional sports teams but in recent years has managed to land more than many other cities. In 2016, the city earned an NHL Expansion team in the Golden Knights. The Golden Knights success inspired other teams to move to the city, as the Oakland Raiders of the NFL moved in 2020 and the Oakland Athletics are currently in the process of moving for the 2028 season. While Seattle's expansion team is expected to take the existing SuperSonics logo and identity, the Las Vegas team will have to create its own branding. Many fans have suggested the name "Las Vegas Gamblers" as a nod to the cities culture of casinos and gambling.