NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NBA Board of Governors expected to vote on two-team expansion this summer

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 9:42 AM ET

The NBA's expansion plans are picking up steam, and a vote could be coming sooner than expected. Commissioner Adam Silver first brought up the possibility before the 2020-21 season.

A few months ago, he suggested a decision could land sometime in 2026, and that window is starting to close in fast. Two cities keep coming up in these conversations: Seattle and Las Vegas.

Silver pointed to both in December, citing Seattle's NBA roots and Las Vegas' growing ties to the league. The WNBA's Aces, the NBA Summer League and NBA Cup games have helped cement that connection in Vegas.

Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend shared an update on those discussions recently.

"Think it's going to be an extra-great year for Seattle. I'm hearing NBA Board of Governors likely to vote on expanding by two teams this summer and Las Vegas and Seattle are favored," Townsend wrote.

Think it's going to be an extra-great year for Seattle. I'm hearing NBA Board of Governors likely to vote on expanding by two teams this summer and Las Vegas and Seattle are favored.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 9, 2026

Seattle has not had an NBA team in nearly two decades. The SuperSonics left after the 2007-08 season and became the Oklahoma City Thunder, a move the city never really got over. The push to bring the league back has been loud and consistent ever since.

Las Vegas is a different case, but the groundwork is already there. Between Summer League and NBA Cup games, the league has built a real presence in the city over the years.

Adding two teams would push the NBA to 32 franchises, both landing in the Western Conference. That creates an imbalance that would force a realignment. Memphis, Minnesota, and New Orleans look like the most logical fits to make the move to the Eastern Conference.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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