The future of NBA in Las Vegas could be without one of its most influential figures. LeBron James he flatly denied being involved in a group seeking an expansion franchise in the city.
“No, I’m not. Not at all,” declared the Los Angeles Lakers player after the 124-116 victory against the Houston Rockets, thus extinguishing the rumors that linked him to the project.
The economic factor that changes the panorama
According to recent reports, the main reason behind the distancing is financial. The Fenway Sports Group, LeBron’s business partner since 2011, would not be willing to assume the expansion costs, which could reach $8 billion.
This group, led by John Henry, owns organizations such as the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC, and was emerging as the key support for LeBron’s foray into ownership of an NBA team.
Without that support, the odds of seeing James as an owner in the short term decrease considerably.
LeBron James’ dream continues, but on pause
Despite this turn, LeBron’s interest is not new. Since 2017 he has expressed his desire to be a franchise owner, and in 2022 he publicly reaffirmed that he wanted a team in Las Vegas.
With an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes, James would have the financial muscle to participate, although not enough to lead an operation of this magnitude without strong partners.
In addition, there is another key factor: the player, currently 41 years old, must retire from the NBA before being part of an ownership group, and has not yet defined whether he will play next season.
NBA expansion takes shape
The NBA continues to advance its expansion plan, with Las Vegas and Seattle as the main candidates to host new franchises.
The league plans to vote on this process at the owners meeting scheduled for March 24-25, where at least 23 favorable votes will be needed to approve the expansion.
If finalized, the new franchises could debut in the 2028 season, marking a new era for the league.
Although the dream of seeing LeBron James as a team owner in Las Vegas is still alive, it is on hold for now.
The lack of financial support and his continuity as an active player push that scenario away, at least in the short term, while the NBA continues to take firm steps towards its expansion.
