League expansion is one of the hottest topics in the NBA, but with 30 teams and 540 players who can be signed to a standard or two-way contract, it doesn’t lack size. However, as the talent pool grows, the opportunities aren’t many.
The league originally planned to expand in 2026-27. For logistical reasons, that date could be pushed back to 2027-28. However, the preferred host cities of Seattle and Las Vegas have remained the same. If Las Vegas gets an NBA franchise, LeBron James has been cited as one of the league’s best players. a name to watch as a potential owner.
“For nearly a decade, James has been transparent about his desire to join Michael Jordan as an all-time great turned team governor and become a true NBA shareholder,” ESPN’s Tim Bontempts, Kevin Pelton and Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday morning. “James’ off-court investment decisions, including taking a stake in the Boston Celtics, Pittsburgh Penguins and Liverpool FC ownership group Fenway Sports, have been made with that in mind.”
“James has continued to develop relationships with deep-pocketed sports investors like John Henry and Gerry Cardinale… Last year, he traveled to Saudi Arabia and met with Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud, a member of the royal family and the kingdom’s minister of culture… In 2022, the NBA paved the way for sovereign wealth funds to invest up to 20% in teams.”
For many, James’ interest in owning an NBA team after retirement is no secret – an ambition he also shares with longtime friends Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. While James, Paul and Anthony don’t want to be part of just any ownership group, they want to invest in the potential Las Vegas franchise.
James has the deepest pockets of the trio, raking in tons of money on and off the court. However, NBA franchises are so expensive that even he could use some help. That said, it’s possible he could finally team up with Anthony and Paul in the NBA, at least as co-owners, among other things.
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