By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA’s Board of Governors has unanimously approved a vote to begin exploring expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, officially launching the process of growing the league to 32 franchises, ESPN reports.
All 30 owners supported the move, with potential bids expected to reach between $7 and $10 billion per team. The league is targeting the 2028–29 season for the new franchises to begin play.
Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that the decision reflects strong interest in both markets, while the NBA has appointed investment bank PJT Partners to evaluate ownership groups, arenas, and financial aspects of expansion. A final vote on adding the teams could come later this year.
Expansion has been widely viewed within the league as a matter of “when, not if,” with owners increasingly supportive due to long-term revenue potential in both markets. Seattle has been without an NBA team since 2008, while Las Vegas has emerged as a major sports hub in recent years.
If expansion is finalized, one of the current Western Conference teams is expected to move to the East to balance the league at 16 teams per conference.
Importantly, this expansion process is not connected to the NBA’s separate plans regarding potential competitions or projects in Europe.