In a post shared by ESPN’s Shams Charania via TSN, the NBA is finally moving forward with a formal process to add two new franchises. The league’s Board of Governors is scheduled to meet next week to hold a pivotal vote on exploring the addition of teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. This move marks the first time in nearly two decades that the league has taken concrete steps toward expanding beyond its current 30-team format.
The expansion, projected to begin in the 2028-29 season, has sparked a frenzy in the sports business world, with industry executives projecting the price tag for each new franchise to fall between $7 billion and $10 billion. Seattle, which lost its beloved SuperSonics in 2008, is the emotional favorite, while Las Vegas continues its metamorphosis into the world’s sports capital.
Beyond the excitement for fans, the expansion poses a logistical challenge for the league. Adding two teams to the Western Conference will necessitate a realignment, forcing at least one current Western team to move to the Eastern Conference. This potential shift has already led to behind-the-scenes lobbying from franchises looking for a path to a less “crowded” playoff race in the East.
While Commissioner Adam Silver had previously tempered expectations, the momentum within the league office now appears unstoppable. The formal vote next week will transition these long-standing rumors into an official league mandate, setting off a massive bidding war among billionaire investment groups and celebrity-backed consortiums.
* NBC Sports stated: “NBA owners will vote next month on exploring adding expansion teams specifically in Las Vegas and Seattle, the first formal vote on accepting bids for those markets.”
* TSN confirmed: “The league is now barreling toward the addition of two teams… beginning with the 2028-29 season.”
Echotitbits take:
This is the most significant structural change to the NBA in the 21st century. The $10 billion valuation per team is staggering and reflects the soaring value of live sports media rights. Keep a close eye on LeBron James; he has been vocal about wanting to own a team in Las Vegas, and this vote officially starts the clock on his transition from the court to the owner’s suite.
Source: TSN — https://www.tsn.ca/nba/article/nba-expansion-seattle-las-vegas-draft-format-news-updates-n1-48223005/ March 16, 2026
Photo Credit: CBS
