The signs are pointing toward a fall 2026 vote on NBA expansion — and for Seattle fans, the next few months may be the most consequential in the 18-year campaign to bring the SuperSonics home.
Multiple sources tracking the expansion process have indicated that the NBA is targeting a formal vote before the end of 2026, with the September Board of Governors meeting as the most likely venue. Here's what Seattle fans need to know about the road ahead.
The September Meeting
The NBA's next scheduled Board of Governors meeting is in September 2026. Commissioner Silver has consistently pointed to this meeting as the next major update point in the expansion process. A formal vote on expansion could happen here — or the league could schedule a special session later in the fall if September proves too soon.
The key variables heading into September are: the state of the Las Vegas bidding process (which has multiple competing groups to sort through), the status of Seattle's competing bids (which Silver says exist but haven't gone public), and the overall financial picture for the league.
What a 'Yes' Vote Means
If the Board of Governors votes to approve expansion, the league will formally award franchises to Seattle and Las Vegas — or potentially just one market, if the other isn't ready. Silver has said the NBA could expand to only one market but hasn't specified how that determination would be made.
A formal franchise award would trigger a cascade of next steps: the new ownership groups would begin building their organizations, the league would set an expansion draft date, and the new franchises would participate in their first NBA Draft.
The Financial Stakes
The expansion fee is expected to fall in the $7–$10 billion range per team, divided among the league's existing 30 owners. At $10 billion per team, each existing owner receives approximately $333 million — a compelling incentive to vote yes.
The Seahawks' recent $9.61 billion sale has reinforced the argument that Seattle's market can support premium franchise valuations, potentially pushing the expansion fee toward the top of its projected range.
The 2028-29 Target
If the vote happens in fall 2026, new franchises would have approximately two years to prepare for their first season. The target is the 2028-29 season — which would mark the 20th anniversary of the Sonics' departure from Seattle.
For a fanbase that has waited 18 years, two more years is nothing. The question is whether the vote happens at all — and the signs, for the first time in a long time, are pointing toward yes.