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It has been widely speculated, and stated by LeBron James himself, that after playing as a player, he wants to own a team.
In 2022, he specifically looked at Las Vegas, which does not yet have an NBA franchise, but is where the new NBA Cup semifinals and finals are being played since the 2023-24 season.
Additionally, starting in 2028, the MLB Athletics will be the third team in Sin City, joining the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, who arrived as an expansion franchise in 2017, and the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, who relocated from Oakland in 2020. The WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces also left San Antonio in 2018 and have won three titles since then.
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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures during the first half of the West Semifinal game of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament against the New Orleans Pelicans at T-Mobile Arena on December 7, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“It’s a sports town. I hope I can bring my franchise here one day,” James said during the 2023 NBA Cup.
However, he seems to have changed his mind.
When asked Wednesday night if he was still interested in owning a team, James responded bluntly: “No, I’m not. Not at all.”
James has been a business partner with Fenway Sports Group, owners of the Premier League’s Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, since 2011.
However, prior to James’ comments, The Athletic reported that because bids could reach as much as $8 billion for the Vegas team, the group was not interested in participating in the bidding.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James sits on the bench during the first half of a game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Calif., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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“Given that Fenway is no longer seeking ownership of the NBA, it is less likely that LeBron will pursue a team,” a source close to James told the outlet.
NBA owners are expected to meet next Wednesday to decide whether the league moves forward with plans to add a team in Las Vegas and even bring the association back to Seattle. 23 owners would need to give the green light before the process officially begins.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers runs onto the court after launching an offensive charge against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of the West semifinal of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on December 7, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers beat the Pelicans 133-89. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The NBA hasn’t grown since 2004, when the association moved back to Charlotte for the Bobcats after the original Hornets moved to New Orleans. That team is now called the Pelicans, while the Bobcats reverted to the original Hornets nickname in 2014.
Las Vegas hosted the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
