The SuperSonics Are Coming Back: Here's How the NBA's Expansion Vote Could Change Everything
The NBA is about to vote on bringing basketball back to Seattle, and league insiders are already calling it inevitable. Later this month, the league will decide whether to explore adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, and according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks, a 32-team NBA with the SuperSonics back in the Emerald City has been viewed as the eventual outcome in league circles for years. Commissioner Adam Silver basically confirmed it when he said in December that a decision on expansion would happen in 2026. It's happening.
What's in It for the Players (and the League)
Here's something wild: the National Basketball Players Association doesn't even get to vote on expansion, but sources tell ESPN the players' union would be "very much in favor" of adding two new teams anyway. Why? Because 36 new roster spots would open up. That's 30 standard spots plus six two-way deals. More jobs for more players. It's a win for the union.
Expansion would also reshape how the NBA Cup works. With 32 teams, the league could split everyone into eight groups of four clubs apiece, which is way cleaner than the current format. The winners of each group could advance to the knockout round, or the league could expand that knockout stage to 16 teams like the single-elimination format at the FIFA World Cup. Either way, the tournament gets a real structural upgrade.
Seattle Gets the SuperSonics Back (With History Included)
This is the part that hits different. When the Thunder relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, the deal included a clause: the SuperSonics name and all the branding would transfer to a new franchise approved to play at a renovated KeyArena at no cost. But it gets better. Sources tell ESPN that the Thunder would also allow a new Seattle team to reclaim the SuperSonics' history and records, which currently apply to the OKC franchise. Seattle wouldn't just get a team back. We'd get our history back too.
The Money Changes Everything
The expansion fees alone could exceed $7 billion per team, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, and those payments get divided among the league's existing owners. That's a serious one-time payday. New franchises would start with a salary cap at 66.6% of the standard cap in year one, climbing to 80% in year two and hitting 100% in year three. Diluting revenue across 32 teams instead of 30 stings current owners, but the expansion fees make up for it. The NBA is also exploring a European league that could create new revenue streams, so the money problem actually has solutions.
The vote is coming. Seattle's coming home.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Expansion Notes.
View X conversation →🔮 Trade Seattle Sports on Kalshi
Did you know you can trade on Seattle sports outcomes on Kalshi, the only federally regulated prediction market in the US? Kalshi is available in Washington state. Bet on Seahawks games, Mariners season outcomes, Kraken playoff runs, and more. No sportsbook account needed.
👉 Sign up at Kalshi.com and use promo code SEATTLEONTAP to get started.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.