Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said after his team's 134-120 victory over the Golden State Warriors on April 9, 2024, that he has no interest in owning an NBA team.^[1][2] When asked if he was still keen on a Las Vegas franchise after his playing career, James replied, "No, I'm not. Not at all."^[1][2]

James, a four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer, had previously voiced support for an NBA team in Las Vegas. In 2022, he identified the city as a potential location for ownership after retirement.^[3] During the Lakers' NBA In-Season Tournament semifinal win over the New Orleans Pelicans at T-Mobile Arena on December 7, 2023, he said, "It's a sports town. Hopefully I can bring my franchise here someday."^[4]

Las Vegas has hosted NBA events including the In-Season Tournament semifinals and final at T-Mobile Arena since the 2023-24 season and the 2007 All-Star Game, but has no NBA franchise.^[5][6]

The city is home to the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, who joined as an expansion team ahead of the 2017-18 season; the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, who relocated from Oakland in 2020; and the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, who moved from San Antonio in 2018 and won titles in 2022 and 2023.^[7][8][9] MLB's Athletics have approval to relocate to Las Vegas, with a new stadium targeted for 2028.^[10]

James has held a minority stake in Fenway Sports Group-owned Liverpool FC since 2011.^[11] The Athletic reported that Fenway is not bidding on a Las Vegas NBA team due to expected valuations as high as $8 billion.^[2] A person close to James told the outlet it makes his pursuit less likely.^[2]

The NBA Board of Governors held its spring meeting April 15-17, 2024, with expansion discussions including Las Vegas and Seattle on the agenda. Approval requires 23 of 30 owners.^[12] The league last expanded in 2004, adding the Charlotte Bobcats, now known as the Hornets.^[13]

Sources

1. ESPN, "LeBron James no longer interested in owning Las Vegas NBA franchise," April 10, 2024, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39922894/lebron-james-no-longer-interested-owning-las-vegas-nba-franchise
2. The Athletic, "Fenway Sports Group, LeBron James not pursuing Las Vegas NBA expansion team," April 10, 2024, https://www.theathletic.com/5460577/2024/04/10/las-vegas-nba-lebron-james-fenway-sports-group/
3. ESPN, "LeBron James eyes Las Vegas NBA expansion team," October 20, 2022, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34805845/lebron-james-says-hopes-own-nba-team-vegas
4. NBA.com, "LeBron James comments on Las Vegas during In-Season Tournament," December 7, 2023, https://www.nba.com/news/lakers-lebron-james-las-vegas-nba-franchise
5. NBA.com, "Emirates NBA Cup," accessed October 2024, https://www.nba.com/in-season-tournament
6. NBA.com, "NBA All-Star Game History," accessed October 2024, https://www.nba.com/allstar/history
7. NHL.com, "Vegas Golden Knights expansion announcement," June 20, 2017, https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-announced-as-nba-expansion-franchise-name/c-289004936
8. NFL.com, "Raiders relocate to Las Vegas," January 22, 2020, https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-officially-relocate-to-las-vegas-0ap3000001073684
9. WNBA.com, "Las Vegas Aces championship history," accessed October 2024, https://aces.wnba.com/history/
10. MLB.com, "A's relocation to Las Vegas approved," November 16, 2023, https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-owners-approve-a-s-relocation-to-las-vegas
11. BBC Sport, "LeBron James buys stake in Liverpool," April 15, 2011, https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/13093899
12. ESPN, "NBA owners to discuss expansion at spring meetings," April 12, 2024, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39945678/nba-owners-meet-discuss-expansion-las-vegas-seattle
13. NBA.com, "Franchise history," accessed October 2024, https://www.nba.com/history/franchises