The race to bring the NBA to Las Vegas may be adding another extremely well-funded contender.
Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband, Bill Laurie, are reportedly considering a bid for a potential Las Vegas expansion franchise. A person familiar with the situation confirmed their interest, although contemplating a bid is not the same as formally securing a place in the league’s process.
The timing is significant. Monday marked the deadline for interested ownership groups to present their proposed financing sources and management structures to the NBA and its strategic adviser, PJT Partners. That step gives the league a clearer picture of which groups possess the money, organization and long-term plan required to operate an NBA franchise.
Las Vegas is not guaranteed a team yet. The NBA Board of Governors voted in March to formally explore expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle, authorizing an evaluation of prospective ownership groups, arena plans and the wider financial impact of adding franchises. No expansion team has been officially awarded.
Still, the reported interest from the Lauries adds another major name to an increasingly crowded field. With several groups positioning themselves for a franchise expected to command an enormous price, the battle for Las Vegas may become almost as competitive as the basketball itself.
The NBA has not officially arrived in the desert. But the billionaires are already lining up.
