Published on: December 17, 2025, 08:53h.
Updated on: December 17, 2025, 08:53h.
- NBA’s 30 owners will evaluate league expansion in 2026
- Las Vegas is a leading contender for a new NBA team
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announces discussions about potential league expansion slated for 2026.
During a press conference on the eve of the NBA Cup finale featuring the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Silver outlined the timeline for considering expansion beyond the current 30 teams.
“We’re actively exploring possibilities for domestic expansion,” stated Silver.
“It’s no secret that Las Vegas is on our radar, along with Seattle and other potential markets. I want to clarify that we are attentive to these discussions and not just teasing these locations,” Silver revealed.
Las Vegas has been a leading candidate for NBA expansion for years. After being previously excluded by major professional leagues, the city has transformed into a vibrant sports hub since the US Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting in May 2018.
Las Vegas: From Gambling Capital to Sports Epicenter
The city is now home to three major sports franchises: the NFL’s Raiders, the NHL’s Golden Knights, and the WNBA’s Aces. Additionally, the MLB’s Oakland A’s are in the process of relocating to Southern Nevada.
Allegiant Stadium hosted the Super Bowl in February 2024, and plans are in place for it to host the College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2027. Las Vegas is already equipped with an NBA-standard facility in T-Mobile Arena, which serves as home to the Golden Knights and is co-owned by MGM Resorts and AEG.
MGM played a pivotal role in bringing a WNBA team to Las Vegas, acquiring the franchise from the San Antonio Spurs organization in 2017. The team was later sold to billionaire Mark Davis, owner of the Raiders, and NFL legend Tom Brady, who holds a minority stake.
Should the A’s complete their move from Oakland to Las Vegas, the city could join an elite group of 12 cities boasting franchises from all four major leagues: NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. These cities include Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
Do Owners Support Expansion?
Despite recent issues concerning gambling scandals and referee grievances, the NBA has witnessed a rise in television ratings during the early part of the 2025-26 season. National telecasts are pulling in approximately two million viewers, an increase of around 30% from the previous year—marking the highest figures since 2017.
The uptick in viewership comes at a crucial time as the league weighs its options for expansion.
“As I’ve mentioned previously, domestic expansion differs from launching a new league overseas, implying the potential dilution of equity within this current league. For instance, owning 1/30 of the league would change to 1/32 with the addition of two teams. This poses a more complex economic analysis, requiring foresight,” Silver elaborated.
“We’re currently collaborating with our teams to assess interest levels and gain insights into the economic viability for those potential teams. By 2026, we anticipate arriving at a decision,” concluded the commissioner.