An ownership group led by NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson isn’t the only one that has discussed Las Vegas NBA expansion with Gov. Joe Lombardo in recent weeks.

A number of groups interested in being part of the ownership of a potential team have contacted Lombardo following Johnson’s meeting with Nevada’s top political figure in February, a Lombardo spokesperson told the Review-Journal.

The subject of public funding that might go toward the building of an NBA-ready arena has not been brought up in those conversations, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson didn’t identify what other groups have spoken with Lombardo. Steve Hill, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO, said in January there are three main groups vying for a franchise should one be made available. Those include Johnson’s MAGI group, Fenway Sports Group, which includes NBA star LeBron James, and a group that includes Golden Knights owner Bill Foley.

The increase in activity regarding expansion has occurred since NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in February that at the league meetings this month in New York the expansion process would likely take the next step.

Shortly after Silver’s comments, Johnson met with Lombardo and other civic leaders in February in Las Vegas to get the ball rolling on expansion talks. Johnson is scheduled to return to Las Vegas this week for further meetings.

The NBA Board of Governors meetings are set for March 24 and 25 in New York, where a source said a vote will occur on exploring expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle. For the initiative to move forward, 23 of 30 owners must vote in favor of the expansion exploratory process.

The NBA will then begin to speak with interested ownership groups from Las Vegas and Seattle and the civic leaders from each area to determine which group would get the chance to buy an expansion franchise.

The reported expansion fee is $7 billion to $10 billion, with the possibility of the awarding of the two expansion teams happening as soon as the July NBA Board of Governors meetings during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.

No home games.

A week’s worth of rainouts.

The Lady Trojans of Mililani aren’t down about a rainy spring break, instead relishing another experience as road warriors. The No. 1 team in the Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10 are en route today to bright and sunny southern Nevada.

Mililani will play six games in a four-day span beginning Wednesday in Summerlin, home of Bishop Gorman High School. The busy slate includes matchups with Reed, the No. 9 team in Nevada (MaxPreps), and Santa Margarita, the No. 16 team in California.

“So we are getting in more games as our schedule has been plagued with rainouts and unplayable field conditions. Cannot help. That’s Mother Nature,” Mililani coach Rose Antonio said. “We would like to achieve consistent performances in all games, maintaining high-intensity play, enhance team chemistry and strengthening team bonds.”

All three of Mililani’s games since last Wednesday — against Waianae, Leilehua and Kapolei — were called off due to inclement weather. The Lady Trojans meet Centennial (Las Vegas) on Wednesday. On Thursday, they play Santa Margarita and San Clemente (Calif.). On Friday, Mililani plays Reed, from Sparks, Nev., and host Bishop Gorman.

Their final game is on Sunday against Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.).

After returning to the islands, Mililani plays Waianae (March 24) and Campbell (March 27).

With a very short week of action, the Top 10 is virtually unchanged. The exception is Moanalua’s move from No. 7 to No. 6, flip-flopping with Kapaa.

Kamehameha ascends past Saint Louis to No. 1

A 4-3 nail-biter win over Damien last week was enough to push the Warriors to No. 1 in the Baseball Top 10. Kamehameha collected just three of nine first-place votes, but outpointed Saint Louis for the top spot.

Despite the litany of rainouts, Pearl City resurfaced in the rankings at No. 9, replacing Punahou. With most ILH games scheduled at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park, the forecast for Waipio has an 80% chance of rain every day from today through Saturday with the exception of 40% on Wednesday.

A Henderson man has died in a motorcycle accident that happened on Sunday, according to Nevada Highway Patrol.

Nicholas Sean Miller, 44, was driving a red 2024 Ducati Panigale motorcycle northbound on Northshore Road, State Route 167, on Sunday morning. According to the Highway Patrol’s investigation, Miller was traveling too fast for the conditions while navigating a curve and went off road.

Troopers responded to a crash at mile marker 16 around 9 a.m. and discovered the Ducati overtuned and Miller ejected from the motorycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash is still under investigation, which is the 17th fatal crash and 20th fatality under NHP’s Southern Command’s jurisdiction.

Another fatal motorcycle accident occured Saturday night near the Strip when the driver fell over a guardrail on the Desert Inn Road overpass and onto Insterstate 15.

Contact Trevor Squire at tsquire@reviewjournal.com Follow him at @trevordsquire on X for more.