The long-awaited return of the SuperSonics and the birth of a Las Vegas franchise are no longer just rumors whispered in the halls of the NBA Summer League. Keep this date: On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the league’s landscape shifted permanently as the NBA Board of Governors officially voted to explore expansion bids exclusively for Seattle and Las Vegas.

For the first time in over two decades, the NBA is moving to the beginning of a process that aims to bring the league to 32 teams by the 2028-29 season.

A unanimous vote for a $20 Billion future

In a rare show of total unity and agreement, sources confirm that all 30 NBA owners voted in favor of exploring these two specific markets. The financial stakes of this move are staggering. The bidding for each new franchise is expected to range between $7 billion and $10 billion, and owners are betting on the long-term revenue growth of these markets to outweigh the cost of splitting the national TV revenue pie two more ways.

While the league is targeting 2028 for the first tip-off, a final vote to finalize the transactions could happen as early as later this year. Commissioner Adam Silver said in an official statement:

“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketbal

The strategic steps that follow

Obviously, the NBA is not navigating this massive expansion by itself. The league has brought on investment bank PJT Partners as a strategic adviser to vet prospective ownership groups, evaluate arena infrastructure, and analyze the economic implications of a 32-team league.

While the determination for expansion was promised for 2026, the speed of Wednesday’s vote caught some by surprise. The league will spend the next several months examining bids and deciding whether to execute the franchise purchases in 2026 or wait a few years. To pass the final round of voting later this year, 23 of the 30 governors must give their approval.