Connor Benintendi 3/25/26 Connor Benintendi 3/25/26

NBA Expansion: Exploration Has Begun, So What’s Next For Potential Sonics Return?

It’s looking like it may only be a matter of time before the NBA is back in Seattle.

The NBA’s board of governors approved a vote — which got a yes from all 30 league owners — for the league to begin exploring bids for potential franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, formally beginning a process that would bring back the SuperSonics if completed.

The first step is complete, and while the chances of the NBA’s return to the Emerald City are becoming more and more likely, it’s still not a certainty. However, for the first time since the Sonics left in 2008, there is hope.

Connor Benintendi 3/16/26 Connor Benintendi 3/16/26

NBA Set to Vote on Exploring Seattle, Las Vegas Expansion Teams

Seattle basketball fans have endured years of empty promises and delayed timelines since losing the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics in 2008. The knife was twisted further after watching the Oklahoma City Thunder, formerly the Sonics, win the NBA title in 2025.

But after a near-20-year wait, there is finally a concrete reason to believe the NBA could be returning to Seattle. The NBA is set to hold a vote to begin exploring expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas during the board of governors meetings from March 24-25, per ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.

The target first season for the pair of new teams is 2028-29.