Sports

Billionaires and Ballplayers Angle for New Crop of NBA Teams

Bidding groups in Las Vegas and Seattle are lining up investors as pro basketball prepares to add new franchises

Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks ahead of Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets in the second half of a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 14. — Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks ahead of Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets in the second half of a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 14.
Photographer: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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By Randall Williams and Anna Edgerton

December 17, 2024 at 4:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

One city has become the National Basketball Association’s favorite playground. The other is a hoops hub that was abandoned by its beloved former team but never lost its passion for the game.

Las Vegas and Seattle could both become home to new franchises as the NBA prepares to expand beyond its current 30-team lineup. With labor peace assured through 2030 and a $76 billion TV deal in hand, the league is setting its sights on getting even bigger.