NBA votes to explore expansion bids, laying groundwork for possible Sonics return

The clock is officially ticking for the long-awaited SuperSonics return.

The NBA board of governors on Wednesday voted to explore expanding to Seattle and Las Vegas, kick-starting the bidding process from potential ownership groups of the two new franchises. For Sonics fans, who have been pining for the return of their NBA team since the Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008, Wednesday's news marks the first official step in a likely yearslong process to see their team return to the court.

“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”

Reports surfaced earlier this month that the 30 NBA owners would vote this week on whether to pursue expansion. Twenty-three of the league's 30 current owners needed to vote in favor of expansion to pass the measure. A binding vote on expansion is likely to come at the July board of governors meeting.

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