NBA to take major step in expanding to 32 teams with two cities primed to get franchises

The NBA will hold a vote later this month to decide whether to explore adding new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. According to insider Shams Charania, the NBA's board of governors will consider expanding to 32 teams during meetings on March 24 and 25.

If the plan is approved, both franchises are expected to begin playing in the 2028-29Season . Bids for the teams could reach as much as $10 billion, and they would immediately rank among the NBA's top-eight revenue earners.

A successful vote would allow the NBA to formally focus on bringing teams to Las Vegas and Seattle and initiate a bidding process. A subsequent vote to finalize the deals would then be required, needing approval from 23 of the 30 governors.

Expansion has been a long-discussed topic in the NBA, with Seattle—which lost the SuperSonics to OklahomaCity in 2008—and Las Vegas having long sought franchises. NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed in December that both cities are contenders for expansion.