It appears the NBA is finally heading to Sin City.
The league is expected to select the winning ownership bid for the Las Vegas expansion team in the very near future, with the franchise and new arena expected to cost at least $12 billion to $13 billion, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The three finalist groups are Nancy Walton and Bill Laurie; Steve Apostolopoulos and Marc Lasry; and Bill Foley and Jerry Colangelo, according to Charania.
Nancy is the daughter of Walmart co-founder James "Bud" Walton, while her husband, Bill, formerly owned the NHL's St. Louis Blues.
Apostolopoulos is a Canadian businessman who previously made unsuccessful bids for the NFL's Washington Commanders and the NHL's Ottawa Senators.
Lasry was the co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014-23.
Foley currently owns a majority stake in the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. His partner, Colangelo, previously owned the Phoenix Suns and was named NBA Executive of the Year four times.
The NBA will hold a formal approval process for two expansion teams before the end of the year, adds Charania.
The league last expanded in 2004, adding the Charlotte Bobcats after the Charlotte Hornets relocated to New Orleans.
The Bobcats were later rebranded as the Hornets after New Orleans became the Pelicans.
