The National Basketball Association, currently operating with 30 teams, is reviewing a potential league expansion. Las Vegas and Seattle have emerged as the leading candidates for new franchises.
The NBA Board of Governors on Monday approved the launch of a preliminary review process for Las Vegas, Nevada, and Seattle, Washington, as potential expansion cities. Several steps remain before expansion can proceed, including market research and economic impact assessments. Final approval requires support from at least 23 of the league's 30 team owners. If approved, it would mark the first new franchise since the Charlotte Bobcats, now the Charlotte Hornets, joined in 2004.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, "Our goal is to finalize the expansion issue within 2026," adding, "We plan to establish a concrete direction by the end of this year." He continued, "New teams could join the league as early as the 2028-2029 season."
Seattle, one of the leading candidates, was home to the SuperSonics from 1967 to 2008. The city is now seeking its first NBA return in 18 years since the team relocated to Oklahoma City. Las Vegas has demonstrated its viability by hosting the NBA Summer League and the All-Star Game. If both cities are finalized, one team currently in the Western Conference — either the Memphis Grizzlies or the Minnesota Timberwolves — would move to the Eastern Conference to balance both conferences at 16 teams each.
The cost of launching a new franchise is projected to range from approximately $7 billion to as much as $10 billion (10.5 trillion won to 15 trillion won).