LeBron James may still have a few years left in the NBA but even after he retires, the King intends to maintain a strong presence in the league. According to the latest update from Fortune, the 4x NBA champion is expected to bid on a new NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.
“The looming bidding war for the NBA expansion team expected to be granted to Las Vegas is shaping up to be the most competitive and expensive sports deal in US history,” wrote Bloomberg. “The list of potential suitors spans LeBron James and his backers to the company that owns the Red Bull brand, according to people familiar with the situation. The total price tag including building a new arena has the potential to hit $7 billion, according to two sports advisers who have previously sold NBA teams.”
LeBron, 39, has long coveted the chance to take on the role of owner/governor of his team but the opportunity has not presented itself so far. With 20 years of experience in the NBA, he’s reached a rare level of notoriety as a player and he intends to keep his influence alive well after his slaying days are done. Las Vegas is arguably his best chance to achieve this goal.
With a population of 656,274, Las Vegas Nevada is among the most popular hubs in its area and it has become world-renowned for its casinos, shows, and the nightlife that millions of tourists every year visit the city to enjoy. For years, Las Vegas didn’t have much of a presence in professional sports but that has changed in recent years.
From the Golden Knights and Raiders to the Aces, Vegas is a rising sports city and the NBA could be next on the list to capitalize on the opportunity. They’ve already made Las Vegas the site of the in-season tournament and Team USA uses the area as a training center for its players.
As far as a potential expansion team goes, the latest intel suggests that the league is close to enacting a plan to add at least two more franchises to the fold and one of them is likely to be based in Seattle. Other contenders include Mexico City, Vancouver, and Nashville. The State of New Jersey has also been trying to get back in the league by making offers to build a new stadium in Camden for the 76ers.
Despite the abundance of options, most fans and experts agree that Las Vegas is arguably the likeliest new expansion city and that’s good news for LeBron James. The King has already stated before that he wants to be the owner of a Las Vegas team and as one of the biggest pioneers of the sport, it’s likely that the NBA will honor his request when they’re ready to add it.
The only obstacle for LeBron, a 4x champion, is coming up with the funds. James, of course, is one of the sports world’s first and only billionaires but it could cost $7 billion or more to set up a new Las Vegas expansion team. No doubt, LeBron has business partners and other connections that he can use to build a proper ownership group and you can bet that he’ll do whatever is necessary to make his dreams a reality.
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