ESPN’s Shams Charania reported exciting news regarding two possible NBA expansion franchises in the near future. It is safe to say the basketball world reacted positively to this development.
NBA World Wants the Seattle SuperSonics Back
Charania announced that team governors will hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings on March 24 and 25. The referendum will decide whether the league brings in two expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle for the 2028-29 campaign. Charania noted “there is momentum for stakeholders to approve” this $7 billion to $10 billion project.
NBA media members and analysts specifically want the Seattle SuperSonics back. The SuperSonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2008-09 campaign, but the franchise dates back to 1967. Seattle won the 1979 NBA Finals, the franchise’s lone championship, before the Thunder won it all in the 2024-25 season.
Seattle drafted Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, both now with the Houston Rockets, before the 2007-08 season. They may play long enough to see the SuperSonics once again. However, Green and Durant, at 39 and 37 respectively, could retire before the 2028-29 season.
The NBA world thinks the league should expand in the near future, specifically to Seattle. The potential project garnered incredibly positive feedback. ESPN writer Pete Thamel thinks it would be “awesome” to revive basketball in Seattle.
“Massive NBA news here from @ShamsCharania. Seattle is an elite hoops town, [and it] would be awesome to see the league return there,” he expressed.
Kenny Beecham’s brand, Enjoy Basketball, emphasized, “BRING THE SONICS BACK.”
BRING THE SONICS BACK! https://t.co/9e18s4VD0t pic.twitter.com/XliZEtroQV
— ENJ🏀Y (@EnjoyBBall) March 16, 2026
Content creator Kevin Fredericks wants an NBA rooting interest again. Seattle provides the perfect solution. “Please bring The Sonics back. I want to have an NBA team again.”
Podcaster Joel Moran thinks the governors will approve the project and is “so happy” that basketball will be back in Seattle.
The NBA sits at 30 teams. Podcaster Kevin Clark thinks a Las Vegas and Seattle team would make the league a “perfect size” with 32 franchises.
“32 is the perfect size for an American league, so this is good. The NFL should never expand, and the NHL’s rumored push to go to 34 should stop. By the way, each NBA team should play every team once, home and away, for a 62-game season. Would make games an event,” Clark emphasized.
32 is the perfect size for an American league so this is good. The NFL should never expand and the NHL’s rumored push to go to 34 should stop.
By the way, each NBA team should play every team once, home and away, for a 62 game season. Would make games an event. https://t.co/0ogcUjaKxM
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) March 16, 2026
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr would likely agree with Clark about shortening the regular season.
Two Western Conference Expansion Teams Mean Balancing the Conferences
Rachel Nichols of Fox Sports 1 brings up an interesting situation if both expansion franchises get the green light.
“It’s Seattle and Las Vegas or bust. First, #BringBackTheSonics, and second, these would both be Western Conference teams, which means one current West team will have to move to the East. Who should it be? Memphis? Someone else?” Nichols asked.
So no open bidding for NBA expansion – it’s Seattle and Las Vegas or bust. First #BringBackTheSonics, and second, these would both be Western Conference teams, which means one current West team will have to move to the East. Who should it be? Memphis? Someone else? https://t.co/IZUyO5uuCo
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) March 16, 2026
Two new Western Conference franchises impact the Eastern Conference as well. The last team to switch conferences but remain in the same city was the New Orleans Hornets. They moved to the Western Conference in 2004 when the NBA introduced the Charlotte Bobcats.
