Seattle and Las Vegas: Top Contenders for NBA Expansion
The buzz around the possible expansion of the NBA has been a staple of discussion for at least the last decade. The key players in these conversations? Seattle and Las Vegas. The former is a city that once harbored deep basketball traditions and the latter is a new contender looking to carve out its place in NBA history.
Seattle, a city that said goodbye to its beloved SuperSonics in 2008 following the team's relocation to Oklahoma City and subsequent rebranding as the Thunder, has not been forgotten by the league. Preseason games have made their way to Seattle periodically, a nod to the city's enduring basketball culture. It was here that superstar Kevin Durant began his illustrious career, drafted by the SuperSonics in 2007 and spending his rookie season with the franchise before its relocation.
There's no concrete timeline for when the NBA might make an official announcement about expansion plans. Rumors, however, abound suggesting that new teams could be introduced as soon as the 2027-28 season. While no official cities have been named for these potential franchises, Seattle remains a frontrunner. The city's eager fan base and historical basketball roots are compelling points in its favor.
Another city that's entered the conversation is Las Vegas. Known for its vibrant entertainment scene and growing sports market, Las Vegas could add an intriguing dynamic to the league. Its inclusion in the discussion signifies the NBA's willingness to explore non-traditional, yet promising markets.
One significant aspect of Seattle regaining an NBA team is the potential revival of the SuperSonics name. There's strong speculation that the iconic brand would make a comeback, supported by the notion that the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the SuperSonics if a team were to return to the city. This arrangement echoes the history between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. In 2014, when the Charlotte Bobcats rebranded as the Charlotte Hornets, they reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the Pelicans.
"Sources said if a team was to return to Seattle, the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the SuperSonics — just as the NBA's Charlotte Hornets reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the New Orleans Pelicans when Charlotte switched from being the Bobcats to the Hornets in 2014," a source close to the league confirmed.
Despite the robust discussions and heavy speculation, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted that expansion was not a focal point in the most recent annual fall Board of Governors meeting. "Not a lot of discussion" took place regarding expansion during the meeting, Silver remarked. However, he assured that "expansion is a topic the board plans to address this upcoming season," indicating a deliberate yet hopeful path forward.
Adding new teams would require the NBA to finalize certain pivotal elements, including television rights and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Both were accomplished last summer, streamlining the league's priorities and making the pathway to expansion more feasible.
The Thunder, for their part, did not bring any part of the Seattle SuperSonics’ historical accolades or identity to Oklahoma City when the team relocated. Preservation of historical identity within the NBA is evidently important, as demonstrated when the Charlotte Hornets reclaimed their own franchise history from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2014.
While this past fall's Board of Governors meeting did not place expansion at the center of formal discussions, the completion of foundational agreements like the CBA and television rights deal suggests the league is methodically setting the stage for future announcements.
The prospective reintroduction of the SuperSonics in Seattle and the possibility of a Las Vegas franchise mark an exciting chapter for the NBA and its fans. The league appears poised to embrace new markets while honoring its storied past, promising a richer, more diversified future for professional basketball.