Las Vegas
Home to the NBA Summer League since 2018 and a top target for expansion by 2028–29.
Las Vegas has served as a central hub for the NBA since hosting its annual Summer League, where every team has participated since 2018. The city also hosts the NBA Cup semifinal and championship games. Historical interest in the market dates back to 2001, when Las Vegas was considered by the Vancouver Grizzlies before they relocated to Memphis. The Thomas & Mack Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus hosted the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. T-Mobile Arena, opened in 2016 as home to the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, has been suggested as a future franchise destination and hosted parts of the NBA Cup in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Expansion efforts intensified in March 2026 when Magic Johnson and the MAGI group met with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo to discuss an expansion team, a possible new arena, and a resort.
- Primary_Affiliation
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Key_Venue
- Thomas & Mack Center
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Las Vegas has long been viewed as a potential destination for an NBA franchise. In March 2026, Magic Johnson and the MAGI group met with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo to discuss bringing an expansion team to the city, including plans for a new arena and resort. Golden Knights owner Bill Foley expressed interest in joining the ownership group and announced a formal bid to acquire an NBA franchise in June 2026. Other interested groups included 'Las Vegas Jacks,' led by former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo and former NBA coach Vinny Del Negro, as well as a coalition led by former Disney CEO Bob Iger and businessman Joshua Kushner. Rumored bids also came from Shaquille O'Neal and former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry. In April 2026, a competing arena bid named 'Las Vegas Diamond Arena' was announced; it is planned as a 21,212-seat venue directly across from Mandalay Bay, near Harry Reid International Airport and major highways.
In Their Own Story
By June 2026, the momentum for an NBA team in Las Vegas had solidified into concrete bids. Bill Foley, owner of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, officially announced his bid to acquire a franchise. This followed months of discussions, including meetings between Magic Johnson and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo earlier that year. The city already hosted significant NBA events, with T-Mobile Arena serving as the site for NBA Cup games in 2023, 2024, and 2025. While LeBron James had expressed interest in owning a Vegas team in 2022, he stated by 2026 that he was no longer interested. The expansion process, targeting a 2028–29 start date, saw the city's leadership and multiple ownership groups actively working to secure one of two new franchises alongside Seattle.
Reader's Guide
Visitors looking for NBA action in Las Vegas can attend the annual NBA Summer League, where all teams have competed since 2018. The city also hosts the NBA Cup semifinal and championship games. Key venues include T-Mobile Arena, which opened in 2016 and has hosted NBA Cup games in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the Thomas & Mack Center, site of the 2007 All-Star Game. As of mid-2026, the city is actively pursuing an expansion franchise with multiple ownership groups submitting bids. A proposed 'Las Vegas Diamond Arena' was announced in April 2026 as a potential new home for the team. The NBA Summer League remains the primary opportunity to see all current franchises compete in the city before any new team begins play.
Did You Know?
- Las Vegas was one of the cities considered by the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2001 before they moved to Memphis.
- The Thomas & Mack Center hosted the 2007 NBA All-Star Game on the campus of UNLV.
- By 2026, LeBron James stated he was no longer interested in owning a Las Vegas team after previously expressing interest in 2022.
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