Bill Foley already owns the Vegas Golden Knights. Now he wants an NBA team to go with them.
The founder and majority owner of the NHL’s Golden Knights officially announced he is pursuing a National Basketball Association franchise for Las Vegas. He’s hired Morgan Stanley as his exclusive financial advisor and retained law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett to help structure an ownership group around his existing sports holdings in Southern Nevada.
This isn’t just talk. The NBA has been open about expansion plans. Commissioner Adam Silver has said the league is discussing adding at least two new franchises. And Las Vegas along with Seattle have been the frontrunners for years.
Foley’s timing lines up with what the league is eyeing. The NBA reportedly wants the two new teams to start playing by the 2028-29 season. That’s still a ways off but the groundwork needs to happen now. Foley is making sure he’s at the front of the line.
The Vegas sports scene keeps growing
Las Vegas already has the Golden Knights (NHL), the Raiders (NFL), and the Aces (WNBA). Adding an NBA team would give the city a complete set of major professional sports. The market has proven it can support multiple franchises. The Golden Knights drew huge crowds from day one. The Raiders filled Allegiant Stadium even during rough seasons. The Aces won back-to-back championships and built a loyal fanbase.
Foley knows how to launch a team in Vegas. He led the ownership group that brought the Golden Knights to life in 2016. That franchise made the Stanley Cup Final in its first season. That kind of success gives him credibility with the league office.
Arash Markazi of The Sporting Tribune first reported Foley’s pursuit. The official statement from Foley’s camp made it clear this is a serious effort, not just exploratory conversations.
Seattle still waiting for its return
Seattle remains the other obvious expansion candidate. The city lost the Supersonics in 2008 when the team moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. Fans there have been pushing for a return ever since. The city has a renovated arena ready to go. The tech money is there. The demand is undeniable.
Las Vegas and Seattle would solve two problems for the NBA. They’d fill a gap in the Pacific Northwest and establish a permanent presence in one of America’s fastest-growing sports markets. The league likely wants both at the same time to keep the expansion process balanced.
Foley’s announcement doesn’t guarantee anything. Other groups could emerge. The NBA hasn’t officially started the expansion process. But putting a well-funded, locally connected owner out front this early changes the conversation. The ball is moving faster now than it was six months ago.
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