NBA Expansion Bids Have Been Submitted
The league is reviewing multiple bids as it evaluates a potential expansion for the 2028-29 season.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Basketball
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The NBA has concluded the September 17, 2026, deadline for expansion bid submissions. Commissioner Adam Silver intends to reach a final decision regarding league growth by the end of 2026.
Why it matters
The league is currently balancing the financial benefits of expansion against potential concerns regarding player talent dilution and the complexities of existing revenue sharing models.
The NBA is targeting the 2028-29 season for a potential league expansion following a previous addition in 2004. PJT Partners has been engaged by the league to oversee the proposal review process.
The players
Adam Silver
He serves as the Commissioner of the NBA and is the primary authority overseeing the expansion process.
Jerry Colangelo
He is a prominent sports executive who leads the Las Vegas Jacks bid group and previously chaired the NBA Board of Governors.
Nancy Walton Laurie
She is an investor who, alongside Bill Laurie, leads a separate bid group for an expansion team based in Las Vegas.
PJT Partners
This investment banking firm has been hired by the NBA to manage the complex expansion bid review process.
Bill Foley
He is an investor whose group successfully met the league deadline to submit a formal bid for an expansion franchise.
The details
Investment groups led by figures such as Jerry Colangelo and the pair of Nancy Walton Laurie and Bill Laurie have participated in the bidding process. NBA ownership groups retain the final authority to approve any new franchise additions following the review by league officials.
Timeline
Jerry Colangelo served as the chair of the NBA Board of Governors from 2001 to 2005.
The NBA last added a replacement team in Charlotte in 2004.
Jerry Colangelo discussed the bid process in an interview on September 16, 2026.
The official NBA expansion bid submission deadline occurred on September 17, 2026.
The NBA is expected to announce its final decision on league expansion by the end of 2026.
Season Trajectory
The current bid process represents the first potential league growth initiative since the precedent established by the 2004 expansion. This expansion could permanently alter the current competitive landscape and playoff structure for all existing teams.
A decision to expand would require a major restructuring of current division alignments and the NBA schedule. Any new franchise will directly impact the player draft pool and the future salary cap distribution across the league.
The takeaway
The addition of new teams would represent a significant shift in the operational scale of the NBA. Fans and stakeholders should anticipate changes to the competitive balance of the league if the 2028-29 expansion timeline is confirmed.
Further reading
For more information on the current state of the league, visit our Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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