The Lakers are in Las Vegas for a pair of preseason games and superstar forward LeBron James didn’t mince words when asked about the idea of bringing an NBA team to the Sin City.
“It’s wonderful. It’s the best fan base in the world and I would love to bring a team here at some point,” James told the media.
“I want the team here Adam (Silver), thank you,” he said with a smirk on his face.
LeBron tells Adam Silver he wants the NBA Las Vegas expansion team (if/when)https://t.co/5zx0t9SJHP pic.twitter.com/J0jxC8Z7bO
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 6, 2022
Naturally, the quote started circulating Twitter immediately which led to swirling rumors about the NBA’s future in the Sin City. Let’s break it down.
When will the NBA add an expansion team in Las Vegas?
There is nothing imminent and despite the preseason games in Las Vegas, there are no immediate expansion plans. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was quick to address the logistics of a team potentially coming to Vegas.
“The NBA plans to negotiate new television/media and Collective Bargaining deals before seriously examining the adding of new teams,” Wojnarowski said in his tweet. “The possibilities of Las Vegas and Seattle as expansion candidates are real, but likely years away.”
When the NBA most recently expanded with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets), the franchise was officially announced in December 2002 but did not begin play until 2004-05. So even once an announcement is made, there will likely be at least one if not two additional years before they actually begin play.
If the NBA brought a team to Las Vegas, would LeBron be able to have a hand in owning it?
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Could LeBron James own an NBA team in Las Vegas?
James is 37 years old, entering his 20th NBA season. As he continues to defy Father Time, it could hinder his chances of owning an NBA team in Las Vegas because he would have to be retired, by league rule.
But with Wojnarowski’s report of the possibilities of expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle being “likely years away,” James could be retired by the time the league is ready to make that move.
This wasn’t the first time James mentioned wanting to own the potential NBA team destined for Vegas, either. On his show, The Shop, he echoed a similar sentiment.
“I want a team in Vegas,” he told the group. “Yeah… I want the team in Vegas.”
“I want the team in Vegas.” 👀 👑 pic.twitter.com/HIZKsBZnwd
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) October 6, 2022
LeBron James and Fenway Sports Group
In March 2021, James joined the Fenway Sports Group, becoming a partial owner of the Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, Roush Fenway Racing and the New England regional sports network, NESN. Prior to joining Fenway Sports Group, James already owned two percent of Liverpool.
LeBron James and other ownerships
Just last week, it was announced that James and his business partner, Maverick Carter, invested in Major League Pickleball. The ownership group also includes Cavaliers forward Kevin Love and Warriors forward Draymond Green.
Back in May, James’ longtime best friend, Dwyane Wade, told TSN’s Steph Noh that he would love to one day own a team with the “Banana Boat” crew — James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.
“A couple of players have definitely told me that when the time is right in their careers, they need to know more information. They would definitely ask me, can they reach out to me? And I told them, you know, 1,000%,” Wade said.
“That’s what [the NBA] is supposed to be. It’s supposed to be a brotherhood. And so I’m definitely gonna walk [players] through this,” he continued.
“Even with my friends, even with Chris Paul and Melo, LeBron, if they want to get into ownership, I’ve already been in. And so I can kind of talk to them through it a little bit as they go through the process of wanting to be a part of ownership.”
You can read the full interview with Wade here.
LeBron James net worth
James has a net worth of $1 billion, per Forbes. He is the first-ever active NBA player to crack the billionaire’s list.
According to Forbes, James has made north of $900 million in income from investments and other business ventures off the court, in addition to the $385 million he has made in salary on the court.
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