Once considered to possess the most dedicated fan base in the entire NBA, Seattle is now reportedly in serious contention to regain a professional basketball team, eighteen full years after the beloved SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. According to a major revelation from esteemed league insider Shams Charania, the NBA's powerful board of governors is scheduled to hold a crucial vote later this month to decide on potentially adding brand-new expansion franchises in both Seattle and the glittering desert metropolis of Las Vegas.
Emerald City Enthusiasm Meets Nashville Disappointment
While the city of Seattle is understandably buzzing with excitement and hope over this prospective return, prominent ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has publicly voiced his profound disappointment, arguing that the league is overlooking a superior option in the thriving city of Nashville. 'It's a damn shame this team is on the outside looking in,' Smith stated emphatically regarding Nashville. ''Cause I gotta tell you something, Nashville is a growing city. A lot of people love Nashville. They are a very successful city right now. They are a thriving city in the United States of America.'
Examining Nashville's Sports Landscape and Growth
The statistical data supports aspects of Smith's argument; the Nashville metropolitan area has demonstrated significant population growth, reportedly adding approximately 100,000 new residents between the years 2020 and 2024. Furthermore, the city maintains immense popularity as a tourist destination, famously drawing in countless country music enthusiasts and bachelorette party attendees annually. However, the existing professional sports scene in Nashville presents a more complex picture. The NHL's Nashville Predators currently rank a modest 22nd in league attendance, while the NFL's Tennessee Titans find themselves positioned dead last in attendance within their own league.
Smith elaborated on his perspective, stating, 'I’m certainly not advocating that Memphis loses a team…but in the same breath, you wonder about Nashville comparing that to Seattle.' This comment subtly hints at a potential alternative pathway for the NBA to enter the Nashville market.
The Memphis Grizzlies: A Potential Relocation Candidate?
If the NBA hierarchy ultimately desires to place a team in Nashville, one plausible scenario could involve the relocation of the Memphis Grizzlies, who currently play their home games just over three hours to the west. Three decades after the franchise's inception in Vancouver, the Grizzlies now languish at the very bottom of the NBA in terms of game attendance, all while posting a disappointing 23-44 win-loss record in the current season. This situation potentially makes the franchise a candidate for a move, should expansion not be granted to Nashville directly.
Financial Stakes and League Momentum
Should the expansion plan ultimately receive formal approval from the board of governors, both the new Seattle and Las Vegas franchises are anticipated to commence play in the 2028-29 NBA season. The financial stakes are colossal, with bids for these coveted teams expected to reach as high as an astonishing $10 billion. Upon entry, these new clubs would immediately rank among the top-eight revenue earners across the entire league, underscoring the immense economic value of the expansion markets.
The topic of NBA expansion has gained substantial momentum throughout recent months. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the speculation directly before the NBA Cup final last December, stating, 'Not a secret, we're looking at this market in Las Vegas. We are looking at Seattle.' He continued, 'We've looked at other markets as well. I'd say I want to be sensitive there about this notion that we're somehow teasing these markets, because I know we've been talking about it for a while.'
Commissioner Silver expressed strong confidence in the viability of both leading candidate cities. 'I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities. Obviously we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas in the Aces. I don't have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team.'
He outlined the ongoing process, noting, 'I think now we're in the process of working with our teams and gauging the level of interest and having a better understanding of what the economics would be on the ground for those particular teams and what a pro forma would look like for them, and then sometime in 2026 we'll make a determination.' The upcoming vote represents a critical step in that decisive timeline, setting the stage for a potential major reshaping of the NBA landscape.
