The NBA is preparing to take a significant step toward expansion as the league’s Board of Governors plans to vote later this month on exploring the addition of two new franchises.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the league will hold a vote during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24–25 to explore expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
Charania reported Monday that the proposal would target the 2028–29 season for the launch of the two franchises if the process moves forward.
The upcoming vote is not expected to finalize expansion immediately. Instead, it would allow the league to begin surveying potential ownership groups and evaluate the formal purchase process for teams in both markets.
Industry projections suggest potential expansion bids could fall in the $7 billion to $10 billion range for each franchise. Such figures would represent the most expensive franchise expansion fees in professional sports history.
For the proposal to advance, at least 23 of the NBA’s 30 governors must vote in favor during both the exploratory vote and any final vote later in the year.
If the process is approved, the league would move toward a second vote that could formally approve expansion and increase the NBA’s total number of teams from 30 to 32.
Seattle has long been considered a leading candidate for a future franchise. The city previously hosted the Seattle SuperSonics, who relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder.
A return to Seattle would restore a historic basketball market that produced Hall of Fame players and hosted NBA Finals games. Las Vegas has also emerged as a major candidate as the NBA expands its presence in the city.
The league has hosted multiple Summer League events in Las Vegas, and the city continues to grow as a destination for major professional sports.
Expansion would also reshape the competitive structure of the league. Adding two teams would likely require adjustments to conference alignment, scheduling and the distribution of talent through expansion drafts.
The NBA currently features 30 teams split evenly between the Eastern and Western Conferences.
As of March 16, the Detroit Pistons lead the Eastern Conference with a 48-19 record, while the Oklahoma City Thunder hold the NBA’s best record at 53-15. Boston sits second in the East at 44-23, while San Antonio ranks second in the West at 49-18.
