The NBA is getting prepared for an expansion that could shift the league significantly, with the inclusion of teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
These expansion teams may just enter the NBA sooner than most think, as soon as 2028.
Seattle has previously been in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, a team that won the championship in 1979. The franchise was moved in 2008 to Oklahoma, becoming the now-known Oklahoma City Thunder.
ESPN is reporting that the two emerging teams are likely to be coming from Seattle and Las Vegas; this would bring the competition to a 32-team league. Whilst these teams have yet to be confirmed, these two cities are becoming increasingly likely to land the expansion.
The NBA's Board of Governors approved the exploration of these two cities for the potential expansion in March, creating buzz for the residents of these states.
The league appointed investment bank PJT Partners to evaluate arena infrastructure, prospective ownership groups, and wider economic implications of adding new teams.
For Seattle, the homecoming of an NBA team is an exciting time for the city. After the move of the Seattle Supersonics, the long-awaited return of the NBA would take over two decades.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly recognised Seattle's history in the NBA, as the city is a favourite for expansion.
Las Vegas is another favourite for NBA expansion, as the city hosts a plethora of sporting teams including the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders and the NHL's Golden Knights. Adding an NBA team into the mix allows Las Vegas to be one of the largest sporting markets in the United States.
Las Vegas has experience with the NBA, as the city has hosted the Summer League for over two decades. The event has become a major event in the NBA's off-season calendar.
The success of the Aces has created a need for another basketball team in the city; another franchise would be ideal for an increasingly crowded Las Vegas market.
The 2028-29 season has been previously looked at as the ideal starting year for an expansion; however, it remains a target rather than a confirmation. The NBA is looking at the end of 2026 to decide on the expansion.
With no confirmation, the expansion may not move forward. However, as the league has approved Seattle and Las Vegas for exploration, the expansion could start to look like a reality.
For Seattle, this could be a return of a beloved sport and a franchise that has been absent since 2008.
For Las Vegas, this could be another significant step into the city's rapid transformation into one of the largest sporting markets in the country.
For the NBA, this could be one of the largest moves they have seen in decades.
