Lebron James Sends Message To Adam Silver, Wants To Own Vegas NBA Franchise
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With the NBA regular season around the corner, Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James may be looking ahead to life outside of actively playing basketball. James spoke openly about potentially owning a NBA franchise in the city of Las Vegas when talking to media. James had some high praise for the Las Vegas fanbase, before directly speaking to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“It’s the best fanbase in the world. I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing,” James said. “I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now, I believe. But he probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes through from NBA players. So, I want the team here, Adam. Thank you.”
This is not the first instance where James has been cited expressing his desire to become the owner of a NBA franchise. Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reported on James’s desire on August 17, 2016. During that time, James was reportedly a guest for the “Open Run” podcast on Uninterrupted and mentioned that he would like to continue bestowing his knowledge of the game after his playing career in the league comes to an end.
“I feel like my brain as far as the game of basketball is unique and I would love to continue to give my knowledge to the game,” James said. “And I would love to be a part of a franchise, if not at the top. My dream is to actually own a team and I don’t need to have fully hands on. If I’m fortunate enough to own a team, then I’m going to hire the best GM and president that I can.”
Owning a NBA franchise in Nevada would not be the first team James would own. In addition to joining fellow players Draymond Green, Kevin Love and others in purchasing a professional pickleball team, James is also a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox. James is also an owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, RFK Racing and Liverpool Football Club. It may be some time before his dream of owning a NBA franchise in Las Vegas can be realized, as James believes he still has more left in the tank.
James became the new highest-earning player in NBA history due to his new contract-extension with the Lakers. James agreed to a 2-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers which pushes his career guaranteed money to $532 million. While James is not eligible for a no-trade clause due, the extension does include a 15% trade kicker and a 3rd-year player option for the 2024-25 NBA season. A trade kicker turns a specific percentage of a player’s salary into a bonus in the event of a trade. James was entering the final year of his current deal prior to the extension getting done.
Yahoo Sports has more HERE.
James recently spoke out against the league’s imposed discipline of Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver. Sarver also owns the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury team and has made the decision to sell both teams. James said that the league had “definitely got this wrong” and that there is no room in the NBA for Sarver’s reported behavior. Sarver was given a 1-year suspension as a result of an investigation into the franchise for the alleged violation of workplace standards. In addition to the suspension, Sarver was also fined $10 million dollars.
Read more about it HERE.
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