NBA expanding to 32 teams
The NBA is planning to expand from 30 to 32 teams, with Seattle and Las Vegas as the likely new franchise cities.
Snapshot · Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast
Explaining the NBA in Tech Terms!
Explore episode
Jun 24, 2026
Where this was said
NBA Expansion, Teams as Startups, and the Nokia/Seattle Analogy
At 4:34 · chapter starts 4:20
With 30 current teams and expansions to Seattle and Las Vegas on the horizon, Marques introduces the startup analogy: expansion teams are companies building from scratch with no history, joining an established competitive landscape. Alex traces the messy history of the Seattle SuperSonics — controversially moved to Oklahoma City by an owner fixated on relocation despite passionate local fans — and the team's eventual return to a new arena. Marques lands the Nokia comparison: Seattle getting a new team is like Nokia licensing its brand to make phones again. The name is recognisable, the nostalgia is real, but it's not quite the same thing that existed before. The Charlotte Hornets/New Orleans Pelicans franchise identity saga gets a parallel to Carl Pei running OnePlus, leaving to start Nothing, and then acquiring the Essential name.
Seattle's NBA Team Was Nokia — And It's Coming Back
Seattle's SuperSonics were controversially moved to Oklahoma City in the late 2000s after an ownership dispute. Returning an NBA franchise to Seattle is like Nokia licensing its name to make phones again — the history isn't quite the same, but fans recognise the brand.
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