NBA Owners Set to Vote on Expansion, Seattle SuperSonics Poised for Return

ESPN's Brian Windhorst says Seattle fans can 'truly start to believe' the Sonics are coming back

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:36pm

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After years of speculation, signs now suggest the Seattle SuperSonics franchise could be on the verge of returning to the NBA. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said 'for the first time really since 2008, I think if you're a Seattle Sonics fan, you can truly start to believe the Sonics are in the process of coming back.' The NBA is set to hold a vote during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25 on a proposal to expand the league by adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, with both potential franchises targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 season.

Why it matters

The return of the SuperSonics would be a major win for Seattle sports fans, who have been without an NBA team since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. The SuperSonics had a rich history, including an NBA championship in 1979 and Finals appearances in 1978 and 1996, and featured some of the league's greatest players like Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Kevin Durant.

The details

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the league is set to hold a vote during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25 on a proposal to expand by adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. Both potential franchises are being targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 season, and there is reportedly increasing momentum among stakeholders to move forward with the process, which would involve evaluating bids that industry executives believe could reach between $7 billion and $10 billion per team.

  • The NBA is set to hold a vote on the expansion proposal during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25, 2026.
  • The potential new Seattle and Las Vegas franchises are targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 season.

The players

Brian Windhorst

A veteran sportswriter for ESPN who has covered the NBA for over 15 years.

Shams Charania

An NBA insider and reporter for The Athletic and Stadium.

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What they’re saying

“For the first time really since 2008, I think if you're a Seattle Sonics fan, you can truly start to believe the Sonics are in the process of coming back, and that's what's most important.”

— Brian Windhorst, ESPN Sportswriter (NBA on ESPN)

What’s next

The initial vote during the March 24-25 Board of Governors meetings would permit the league to begin exploring the purchase process for potential teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. A second vote could then take place later in the year to finalize expansion to 32 teams if the bids meet the required threshold.

The takeaway

The potential return of the Seattle SuperSonics franchise after nearly 15 years would be a major win for the city's passionate basketball fans, who have long awaited the NBA's comeback. While nothing is finalized yet, the latest developments suggest the league is seriously considering expansion to Seattle, which could reignite the city's rich basketball legacy.