NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stood before reporters at the 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas on July 15 and delivered the message Seattle fans have been waiting to hear: the expansion process is on track, and a decision is coming before the end of the year.

"I'm still hopeful that this process would be wrapped up by year-end and I still feel we are very much on track," Silver said at a media availability session following a two-day NBA Board of Governors meeting.

Twenty Years in the Making

Silver's comments came at a moment laden with historical significance. The 2026 Summer League marks the 20th anniversary of the SuperSonics' last playoff appearance, and the 18th year since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City. For Seattle fans who have spent nearly two decades fighting for their team's return, Silver's words carry the weight of that long wait.

The NBA Board of Governors voted unanimously in March 2026 to formally explore expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas — the first such vote in over two decades. Silver has consistently cited both cities as the league's exclusive expansion targets.

The 2028-29 Target

Silver reiterated the league's target of the 2028-29 season for new franchises to begin play. That timeline gives ownership groups approximately two years after a formal vote to hire front offices, participate in an expansion draft, build rosters, and prepare for opening night.

"If we expand, at least we're thinking '28-29 season," Silver said in June. "We will make decisions in 2026."

What 'On Track' Means

Silver's use of the phrase "on track" is carefully chosen. The expansion process involves multiple stages: evaluating ownership groups, assessing arena situations, reviewing financial structures, and ultimately putting the decision to a vote of the full Board of Governors. "On track" means all of those processes are proceeding on schedule.

The next major milestone is the September Board of Governors meeting, which is expected to provide the next substantive update on the expansion process. A formal vote could come at that meeting or at a special session later in the fall.

King5 News and Yahoo Sports both reported Silver's comments as the strongest signal yet that Seattle's long wait is nearing its end.