NBA board approves expansion into Las Vegas, bidding process to start
Jenelle Vannoy
Updated: MAR 27, 2026 / 01:07 AM CDT
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The NBA is taking a major step toward expansion this week — and Las Vegas is right at the center of it.
League owners voted to approve NBA expansion teams in both Las Vegas and Seattle on Wednesday, ESPN reported. This vote now allows for the league to explore bids and applicants for the new teams.
While it’s not the final green light for new teams just yet, it’s widely seen as the most significant progress the league has made in years, starting the process of expanding to 32 teams.
And that’s key — because the NBA hasn’t expanded in more than two decades.
The last time the league added a franchise was in 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) joined the NBA. That means this week’s vote marks the first real step toward expansion in more than 20 years — a long-awaited shift for a league that has grown globally in popularity and valuation