Las Vegas NBA Team Name: Here Are Our Early Betting Odds

Article By Larry Henry Last Updated: Apr 15^th, 2026 · 2 min read

Las Vegas NBA Team Name: Here Are Our Early Betting Odds

As the NBA playoffs tip off this week, a buzz is in the air about what the league’s Las Vegas team will be named.

Later this year, the NBA Board of Governors is expected to hold a final vote granting Las Vegas and Seattle expansion teams. An earlier vote identified those cities for expansion, possibly to begin play by the 2028-29 season.

The Las Vegas team name could reflect a regional desert connection, such as several terms identified as fan favorites: Scorpions, Vipers, or Venom.

Or the name could link the team to the region's past, including the 51s, named for Area 51, an Air Force facility northwest of Las Vegas. Those include:

Sharks (former UNLV basketball coach Jerry "Tark the Shark" Tarkanian)
Wranglers (previous local minor league hockey team)
Posse (former local Canadian Football League team)
Stars or 51s (former local minor league baseball teams)
Mirage (a former hotel-casino that sparked a megaresort building boom on the Las Vegas Strip)

By the time an ownership group is assembled and a name becomes a serious topic, some surprises could emerge.

Gambling.com’s odds reflect the early expectations, based upon fan favorites expressed online and at casinos across the Las Vegas Valley.

Just for fun, some unlikely team names have also been tossed around. Some of these are included in the bottom portion of the list below. For instance, “LeBrons” refers to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who previously expressed interest in owning an NBA team in Las Vegas. He has since said he has no interest in joining an ownership group for a Las Vegas team.

Fanatics Sportsbook Review

New Customers Get Up To $1,000 Matched In FanCash Promo Code: GDCSBK

Valid Today:

Bet Now

21+. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting day of account creation. FanCash rewards will equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash/day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER, 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-888-532-3500 (VA), Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).(
$\"$ Hope is here. Call (800) 327-5050 or > $\"Gamesense$ Play it smart from the start! Live Chat @ http://GameSenseMA.com