NBA Expansion Plans for Las Vegas and Seattle Gain Momentum
WHO:
RealGM Basketball - Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Lurie and Bill Lurie are considered the favorites to receive the Las Vegas team.
RealGM Basketball - Josh Kushner and Bob Iger were previously involved in the bidding process for Las Vegas.
WHAT:
The Source - The NBA is targeting a 2028 tipoff for the expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
NY Post - The NBA is expected to add two more expansion teams.
Pro Football Network - The NBA's expansion plans are projected to exceed $10 billion.
RealGM Basketball - The next rounds of bids for the Las Vegas franchise are due on Thursday, with final bids expected shortly after that.
WHERE:
NY Post - The NBA expansion teams are likely heading to Las Vegas and Seattle.
WHEN:
RealGM Basketball - Final bids for the Las Vegas franchise are expected to be due at some point shortly after Thursday.
WHY:
Pro Football Network - The NBA is moving forward with expansion, as revealed by league insider Shams Charania.
HOW:
RealGM Basketball - The Las Vegas expansion conversations have moved at a faster pace than Seattle.
RealGM Basketball - The expansion process is described as being in "deeper and deeper stages."
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 19:03 UTC)
The NBA is aiming for a 2028 tipoff for its expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. Conversations regarding the Las Vegas team have progressed more quickly than those for Seattle. This marks an exciting development for basketball fans in both cities as they anticipate the arrival of new teams.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 11:03 UTC)
The NBA is moving forward with plans to add two more expansion teams, with Las Vegas and Seattle as the likely destinations. Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Lurie and her husband Bill Lurie are currently seen as the favorites to secure the Las Vegas franchise, while final bids for the team are expected shortly after Thursday. The expansion process is advancing rapidly, with projections indicating that it could exceed $10 billion.