The NBA is eyeing expansion, with Las Vegas and Seattle at the forefront of its plans, according to insights from NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The league’s expansion efforts are expected to take center stage once ongoing media rights negotiations conclude, likely within the next year.
This move comes as no surprise, as the NBA has been steadily building its presence in Las Vegas, from hosting the Summer League to preseason games, while witnessing the success of other professional franchises in the city.
“I’ve been told that once the league gets done with these media rights negotiations, probably over the next year they extend that year, then the league will start to look toward expansion,” Wojnarowski said.
“Certainly Las Vegas is going to be among primary cities, along with Seattle. There’s no question that the league has been migrating towards Las Vegas for years. From Summer League to preseason games.
“And you’ve seen success of other professional franchises in that city. But it is not far off. I think the expectation is there will be two franchises in the next round of expansion. But first they want to get that TV rights/media rights deal done.”
When discussing Seattle’s place in the NBA expansion conversation, it’s impossible to overlook the city’s history with the SuperSonics, a team that had a storied past in the league before relocating to Oklahoma City and becoming the Thunder.
The void left by the SuperSonics’ departure has left basketball fans in Seattle eagerly awaiting the return of the NBA to their city.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas, a city known for its bustling sports scene and entertainment, has already proven its worth as a viable destination for professional sports, with the success of teams like the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Although the exact timeline for expansion remains uncertain, the expectation is that the NBA will add two new franchises in the next round of expansion, an exciting prospect for basketball fans in both Las Vegas and Seattle.
