NBA board approves process to explore expansion to 32 teams

On March 25, 2026, the NBA board of governors officially approved a vote to begin the formal process of exploring franchise expansion. The league is now accepting and investigating bids for new teams specifically in Seattle and Las Vegas. Journalists including Shams Charania reported that the estimated value for each new franchise is expected to range between 7 and 10 billion dollars. League officials have characterized this move as a shift toward an inevitable expansion to a 32-team format. The organization will spend the coming months reviewing proposals to determine the timeline for the integration of the new clubs. Decisions remain regarding whether the purchases will be finalized for immediate implementation or phased in over the next few years. The initiative represents the first definitive step toward growth for the current NBA structure.