The NBA just took a real step toward expansion.
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The league's Board of Governors has approved a plan to formally explore adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, the league announced. The vote clears the way for the next phase, which includes evaluating markets, ownership groups and overall logistics.
This isn't expansion yet, but it's the closest the league has come in years.
Momentum has been building for a while, and around the NBA, the belief is simple: It's not if the league expands. It's when.
Money is a big reason why. Expansion fees are expected to land somewhere between $7 billion and $10 billion per team. That would mean massive payouts for current owners, which helps ease concerns about splitting future revenue.
Now the process begins. The NBA will spend the coming months vetting Seattle and Las Vegas, along with potential ownership groups. The league has also brought in investment firm PJT Partners to guide the process and evaluate everything from arenas to long-term economics.
Commissioner Adam Silver called the vote "a next step," pointing to both cities' history and support for basketball.
Seattle has long been viewed as a lock if expansion happens. The city lost the SuperSonics in 2008, but the fan base never really left. Climate Pledge Arena is already in place, and there's strong expectation the Sonics name would return.
Las Vegas has built its case differently. Summer League lives there. The NBA Cup has leaned into the market. The infrastructure is ready.
If everything moves forward, expansion teams could begin play as early as the 2028-29 season.
