NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that the league will make a decision on expansion by 2026, with Seattle and Las Vegas as the leading candidates. The move would add two teams, ending the NBA's 30-team structure in place since 2004. Silver emphasized the cities' potential while gauging economic viability.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver provided the clearest timeline yet on league expansion during a news conference in Las Vegas on December 18, 2025, ahead of the NBA Cup final between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. He stated that the NBA would determine whether to add one or two teams sometime in 2026, focusing primarily on Seattle and Las Vegas. "Not a secret we’re looking at this market in Las Vegas," Silver said. "We are looking at Seattle. We’ve looked at other markets, as well."
Seattle has been without an NBA team since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, becoming the Thunder, who won the championship last June. The city boasts a renovated NBA-ready arena in Climate Pledge Arena, home to the NHL's Kraken, and a strong basketball culture with corporate support from companies like Amazon and Microsoft. Las Vegas already hosts the WNBA's Aces and has proven its sports market viability with the NHL's Golden Knights and NFL's Raiders.
Expansion discussions have intensified with the NBA's new $76 billion media rights deal, nearly tripling previous payouts and providing financial incentive despite dilution of revenue shares among current teams. Industry sources estimate an expansion fee exceeding $7 billion per franchise. Two high-ranking executives expressed uncertainty, with one estimating slightly better than 50/50 odds of a 2026 resolution.
If approved, new teams could begin play as early as the 2027-28 season, following a process similar to the 2004 Charlotte expansion. This includes realignment to balance conferences at 16 teams each, potentially moving a Western team like Minnesota to the East and creating eight four-team divisions. An expansion draft would allow protection of up to eight players per existing team, though front offices could minimize losses through contract maneuvers.
Silver stressed avoiding teasing markets after years of speculation, noting the league's familiarity with both cities through events like the summer league in Las Vegas.
