For over a decade, the idea of expanding the NBA has been a recurring topic of conversation within the league and among its fan base. The city of Seattle, which lost its cherished SuperSonics in 2008 when the team relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, has long been considered a prime candidate for expansion. The NBA has kept Seattle in its orbit by occasionally holding preseason games there, nurturing the city's love for basketball.
One of the most memorable moments in Seattle's recent basketball history was drafting Kevin Durant in 2007. Durant spent his rookie season with the SuperSonics before the team relocated, leaving a lasting impression on Seattle fans. Although Durant quickly became a superstar in Oklahoma City, the city where his professional journey began has never forgotten its roots.
Despite the fervent hope of Seattle fans, the NBA has not yet set a public timeline for officially announcing its expansion plans. Rumors, however, continue to circulate, suggesting that new teams might join the league as early as the 2027-28 season. While no official cities have been named, Seattle consistently emerges as a frontrunner, with Las Vegas also being a prominent candidate.
The return of a team to Seattle brings with it the tantalizing prospect of resurrecting the iconic SuperSonics name. For many fans, this wouldn't just mean the return of a team but the revival of a storied legacy. According to sources, if a team returns to Seattle, "the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the SuperSonics -- just as the NBA's Charlotte Hornets reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the New Orleans Pelicans when Charlotte switched from being the Bobcats to the Hornets in 2014."
Las Vegas is another city that has recently entered into serious consideration for an NBA team. With a growing sports market and successful franchises in other major leagues, Las Vegas presents a viable option for the league's expansion plans. However, as things stand, neither Seattle nor Las Vegas has been officially confirmed as an expansion city.
Earlier this year, League Commissioner Adam Silver commented on the expansion discussion. He acknowledged that there was "not a lot of discussion" regarding expansion during the annual fall Board of Governors meeting. However, Silver assured fans and stakeholders alike that "expansion is a topic the board plans to address this upcoming season," suggesting a calculated yet optimistic approach to the matter.
Beyond fan anticipation, certain logistical concerns have to be tackled before any expansion announcements can be made. The NBA recently completed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and finalized a television rights deal, both of which have set a clearer pathway for other league priorities—potentially including expansion. These agreements streamline financial and operational considerations, making the idea of adding new teams more feasible.
In terms of historical precedence, the Charlotte Hornets' experience offers a good model. When the Charlotte Bobcats rebranded as the Charlotte Hornets in 2014, they reclaimed the history associated with the original Hornets, who had relocated and become the New Orleans Pelicans. Such a thoughtful return to historical roots could be a template for reclaiming Seattle's basketball history if the SuperSonics were to be revived.
For now, the excitement rests on speculation and hope. The absence of formal discussions at the fall Board of Governors meeting might have tempered immediate expectations, but with the upcoming season holding the promise of addressing expansion, fans in Seattle and Las Vegas have reason to be optimistic. Whether the league's methodical approach will finally lead to the much-desired expansion remains to be seen, but the seeds of potential growth are undoubtedly planted.