The NBA expansion race got significantly more crowded on July 9, 2026, when a new Las Vegas ownership group called the Las Vegas Jacks announced their intention to submit a formal expansion bid — and the implications for Seattle are significant.

The Jacks group is led by Jerry Colangelo, the 86-year-old former Phoenix Suns executive who became the youngest general manager in NBA history when he took over the Suns at age 29 in 1968. Colangelo is joined by David Levy, CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences, ESPN commentator and former Chicago Bulls point guard Jay Williams, and former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro.

The Jacks' Pitch

The group's working logo features a Jack playing card holding a basketball — a nod to Las Vegas's gambling identity that complements the WNBA's Aces. The Jacks have announced plans to build their own arena and entertainment district if awarded a franchise, and Colangelo's group claims to have already raised $8 billion toward an expansion bid.

The Jacks join an already crowded Las Vegas field that includes Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, former Disney CEO Bob Iger (alongside venture capitalist Josh Kushner), former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, and NBA legend Magic Johnson — all of whom have publicly expressed interest in a Las Vegas franchise.

What This Means for Seattle

The contrast with Seattle is stark. While Las Vegas has five or more publicly declared bidding groups, Seattle has exactly one: Samantha Holloway's One Roof Sports and Entertainment. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed that multiple groups are quietly competing in Seattle, but none have gone public.

For the NBA, a robust Las Vegas bidding war is exactly what the league wants — it drives up the expansion fee and maximizes the payout to existing owners. But the chaos in Vegas could also work in Seattle's favor. A clean, single-bidder process in Seattle may be easier to resolve quickly, potentially allowing the league to award Seattle's franchise first while Las Vegas works through its competitive field.

"Having multiple groups in the same market is necessary to creating a bidding war," Front Office Sports reported on July 9. "Which would allow the league to drive up the price of its expansion bid and ultimately net its current owners more money."

The September Board of Governors meeting is now the next key milestone, with Silver targeting a year-end 2026 decision.