NBA Board of Governors meet, discuss Seattle expansion

The NBA Board of Governors met today to discuss recent fines, new ownership changes, and an update on expansions in both Las Vegas and Seattle.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the board spent most of the team expansion conversation focused on Las Vegas’ expansion, but Seattle did get some focus.

“My understanding is proposals for that Vegas team is reaching and potentially exceeding $10 billion, and so far, the Vegas process has moved with more pace than Seattle, but those Seattle conversations are continuing as well,” Charania said.

Charania also mentioned that the NBA is still determined on bringing the two expansion teams in for the 2028 season.

In a press conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the limited time spent on Seattle expansion talks.

“There was not as much discussion around Seattle as there was around Las Vegas. Largely, because, Las Vegas, it’s not even clear what the site will be,” Silver said. “In Seattle, we have had operational groups out to Climate Pledge. You clearly have a state-of-the-art arena out there.”

Silver added that the timeline has not changed for a decision, but that Seattle is much further ahead.

“[Climate Pledge] may require some modifications for NBA basketball, but if we were opening in five weeks, we could be ready in Seattle,” Silver said. “It’s our goal to have decisions by the end of the year and that continues to be our goal.”

Currently, there are multiple bids to bring the Sonics back, including one from the Tulalip tribe. No bid has been accepted yet, and the vote to formerly expand the NBA to add a new Seattle team is expected to happen later this year.

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