The NBA appears to be close to making a decision on expanding to Las Vegas, with three groups in the running to land a team who would play in Southern Nevada.
The NBA has been exploring the potential expansion of the league to Las Vegas and Seattle formally since March, with the plan to have the process wrapped up by the end of the year.
If Las Vegas is awarded an NBA team the city will have all four major professional sports leagues playing in Las Vegas in a few year’s time. With the arrival of the MLB’s Athletics set for 2028 and the NBA potentially starting in Southern Nevada that same year, adding to the NFL’s Raiders and NHL’s Golden Knights who already play in the city.
Who would own the team?
The NBA is soon expected to choose a winning bid group from three groups, who would purchase the team for an expansion fee of between $12 billion and $13 billion, which includes arena construction costs, according to ESPN.
There are three finalists groups in play to land a Las Vegas expansion team, including one led by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband Bill Laurie, one featuring Golden Knights owner Bill Foley and former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo known as the Las Vegas Jacks, and one that includes former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos, ESPN’s report noted.
Where would a Las Vegas NBA team play?
With expansion bid price reportedly including the cost of building a new arena, even if the group that includes Foley and Colangelo wins the bid, they would look to build a new arena in Las Vegas, according to ESPN. With the target season for expansion teams to begin play reportedly being the 2028-29 NBA season, whatever team lands in Sin City, would likely play at T-Mobile Arena on a temporary basis.
Multiple NBA-ready arena projects have been floated by different groups.
The Las Vegas Diamond Arena project has been proposed on the South Strip on 11 acres located just across Las Vegas Boulevard from the Mandalay Bay. The 21,212-seat proposed arena project is backed by a group that includes Chetak Development Inc.
Caesars Entertainment and its landlord VICI Properties are also working on an NBA-ready arena proposal. Plans call for building an arena to house an NBA team on about 50-acres located behind Caesars’ properties the Horseshoe, Paris Las Vegas and the Horseshoe.
The Jacks have been working with Manica Architecture, the firm who designed Allegiant Stadium, on their potential Las Vegas arena. The site of the group’s potential arena has not yet been revealed.
When will the NBA decide on expansion?
The NBA is looking to have an answer to if the league plans to add new teams by the end of this year, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said on multiple occasions. ESPN reported that a decision on the Las Vegas bidder was expected in the near future, while the decision on Seattle’s team is expected to follow some time thereafter.
How would a Las Vegas NBA franchise field a team of players?
If the NBA approves adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, an expansion draft would be held, with players selected from the other 30 teams. In 2004, when the NBA expanded to Charlotte, teams could protect up to eight players each. It remains to be seen how many players would be protected on each franchise if the NBA approves expansion.
Las Vegas and Seattle would be allowed to select only one player from each team.
Las Vegas and Seattle also would be given a lottery pick in the first NBA draft for which they are eligible.
What happens to the NBA’s Eastern and Western conferences?
Adding two West Coast teams would force the NBA to realign the Eastern and Western conferences, with 16 teams each.
Las Vegas and Seattle would be primed for placement in the Western Conference. That would force the NBA to move one current Western Conference team to the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference realignment candidates include the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Review-Journal is owned by the Adelson and Dumont families, owners of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Patrick Dumont is a member of the NBA’s board of governors.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.