Vegas and Seattle step closer to getting NBA teams, league’s owners approve expansion exploration
NEW YORK (AP) - Seattle and Las Vegas are one step closer to having NBA teams. The league’s board of governors voted Wednesday to approve a plan that will allow NBA officials to “formally explore potential team expansion” to those two cities, which have long been thought of as the front-runners to land franchises. “Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle - two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
“We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties. ” Silver will hold a news conference later Wednesday to discuss next steps. The league said investment bank PJT Partners has been brought on “as a strategic adviser to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the broader economic implications of expansion.
” Expansion isn’t a done deal. But it’s not just a dream anymore, either. New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray was 11 years old when Seattle last had an NBA team.
He grew up with hopes of being like Gary Payton, Ray Allen and Shawn Kemp, and even remembers a rookie who played for the SuperSonics named Kevin Durant. It’s been nearly two decades since those days ended. That said, Wednesday’s vote should finally fuel real hope of a basketball revival for Seattle - and a new chapter in Las Vegas.
“It’s a basketball city, basketball culture, so it’s mandatory I think that they get it back over there,” said Murray, a Seattle native. Added Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, another Seattle native: “I think it’s been a long time coming for the city. I think everybody was pretty bummed out when they left.