NBA Expansion: Seattle & Las Vegas Timeline Explained
The league is finally moving on expansion. Here's what's actually been approved, what a franchise will cost, and when Seattle and Las Vegas could realistically take the floor.
On March 25, 2026, the NBA Board of Governors authorized the league to explore expansion franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, targeting the 2028-29 season. No formal vote to admit the teams has happened yet — this is the exploration phase, not a done deal.
Seattle lost the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008. Las Vegas has never had an NBA team at all.
What Was Actually Approved
It's worth being precise here, because "NBA expansion" headlines tend to run ahead of the actual news. The Board of Governors didn't vote to add two teams — it voted to let the league office begin the formal exploration and bidding process for franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas. That's a meaningful step after years of speculation, but it's still a phase before any ownership group is officially awarded a team.
Why Seattle and Las Vegas
Seattle has been the league's most obvious expansion target since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, leaving a proven NBA market with a fan base that never stopped asking for a team back. Las Vegas, meanwhile, has spent the last decade building the infrastructure of a major sports market — an NHL team, an NFL team, and a calendar full of high-profile events — without ever landing an NBA franchise of its own. Both cities check the boxes the league wants: sizable media markets, arena readiness, and ownership groups already circling.
The Price Tag
Reports on the exploration process point to bids in the $7-10 billion range per expansion franchise — a figure that reflects just how much NBA franchise values have climbed. For comparison, recent full-team sales have already cleared the $10 billion mark for existing franchises, so an expansion fee in that neighborhood tracks with where the market has moved.
The Target Timeline
The league's stated target is for both new franchises to begin play in the 2028-29 season. That gives the NBA roughly two full seasons to finalize ownership groups, work out an expansion draft format to stock the new rosters, and fold the additional teams into the schedule and playoff structure. Timelines for expansion have shifted before in league history, so treat 2028-29 as a target rather than a lock.
How This Fits NBA Expansion History
The NBA started with 11 teams in 1946 and has expanded in waves ever since. The most recent additions came in 1995 (Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Grizzlies) and 2002 (New Orleans Hornets, now the Pelicans), bringing the league to its current 30 teams. A jump to 32 teams with Seattle and Las Vegas would be the first expansion in over two decades — and would also open the door to a cleaner two-conference, eight-division alignment that has been floated as a long-term structural goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NBA expanding to new cities?
The NBA Board of Governors authorized the league on March 25, 2026 to explore expansion franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, targeting the 2028-29 season. No formal expansion vote has been finalized yet.
How much will an NBA expansion team cost?
Reports indicate the bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range per expansion franchise.
When would Seattle and Las Vegas start playing?
The league's target is for both expansion teams to begin play in the 2028-29 season, though that date could shift depending on how the formal approval and franchise-building process unfolds.
How many teams has the NBA added throughout its history?
The NBA started with 11 teams in 1946 and has expanded multiple times since, most recently adding the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies in 1995 and the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) in 2002, reaching its current 30 teams.
