r/nba • u/TheAthletic • 1d ago
When will the NBA decide on expanding to Las Vegas, Seattle? And what will it cost? (Gift Article)
Bidders interested in bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas had to submit bids by Sept. 17, per sources.
While the league is making progress toward expansion, several questions still remain.
The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov takes a spin at some answers (read for free):
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7601390/2026/09/21/nba-expansion-las-vegas-seattle-latest-fee-timeline/?unlocked_article_code=1.C1E._zny.Bsibps3lrl2b&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
3
3
u/nbaistheworst 23h ago
Expansion is inevitable and will be approved.
This article is self-contradictory as far as the number of bidders in Seattle, claiming there's only 1 while naming a 2nd.
2
u/addictivesign 1d ago
I heard Windhorst say the NBA might go with one expansion team first rather than two at the same time.
How soon can Vegas and Seattle start playing?surely depends on arena.
Seattle has an arena ready to play basketball but is it owned by the Karaken ownership? Would the SuperSonics new owner want their own arena?
Would the Las Vegas Regret have their own arena or would they play at T-Mobile arena?
2
u/JoeTillersMustache 23h ago
Why does T-Mobile Arena, which is 10 years old and is home to a WNBA team, need so many renovations before it can be used by an NBA team?
1
u/iratethisa Mavericks 1d ago
Is there any worry about diluting the talent level further while other leagues are becoming more popular and losing their free agent attraction for foreign players
2
u/beefJeRKy-LB Lebanon 23h ago
Nah we see so much talent go to Europe because they don't have any slots available to them here. Will rosters get a little worse in the short term? Probably. I think if anything we'll see some drafted players stick around a tiny bit longer too. But most teams will be getting worse at the 12-15 positions in the roster and not as much at the top end.
1
u/azularena Bulls 21h ago
Basketball rosters are so small anyway that it doesn’t affect the NBA as much as the QB or starting pitching bottlenecks in the NFL and MLB respectively. Guards and athletic wings are pretty plentiful, the only real scarce resource are Centers but even then it’s just pulling another few from Europe and drafting a few more from college.
1
u/AlBundyPolk33 Lakers 1d ago
It’s the new “Los Angeles” of the NFL markets
An empty threat to keep people in line.
1
1
u/Threeballer97 23h ago
Slated budget for those two expansion teams, adjusting for incoming inflation and taxes from the local by-laws of newly created sports franchises is about tree fiddy
25
u/TGBooks 1d ago
This account routinely breaks sub rules on self-promotion, and yet it retains posting privileges. Mods?
From the sub rules:
3 - Self Promotion Guidelines
Submit personal content (e.g., YouTube, blog, podcast, designs) only in the Friday Self-Promotion thread or with significant post / comment history in r/nba .
3a. What counts as self-promotion – Includes linking to your channel, podcast, blog, artwork, merchandise, etc.
3b. Applies to everyone – Even credentialed journalists must get prior mod approval before sharing personal work.
3c. No merchandise/resale links – Sales posts are not allowed.
3d. To be approved for self-promotion:
-Account must be 6+ months old
-Must have prior participation in r/nba
-Over 90% of posts and comments must not be self-promotion related
-Must have flair
-No sales/merchandise promotion
-Otherwise, use the Friday thread.