Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James stated on April 9, 2024, after a 127-117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves that he is no longer interested in owning an NBA team.^[1] When asked if he still wanted to own a franchise following his playing career, James replied, "No, I'm not. Not at all."^[1]

James, a four-time NBA champion playing his seventh season with the Lakers, had previously expressed interest in Las Vegas as a potential ownership location. In December 2022, he voiced support for NBA expansion to the city.^[2] During the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 7, 2023, where the Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 133-89, James said of the city: "It's a sports town. Hopefully I can bring my franchise here someday."^[2][3]

The NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals and final have been held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas since the 2023-24 season.^[3] Las Vegas does not currently have an NBA franchise, though the league has discussed expansion there alongside Seattle.^[4]

James has been a minority partner in Fenway Sports Group since October 2021. The group owns the Boston Red Sox MLB team, Liverpool FC of the English Premier League, and the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.^[5] On April 9, 2024, The Athletic reported that Fenway Sports Group was no longer pursuing an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas due to expected franchise fees reaching as high as $7 billion, and a source close to James indicated he was less likely to pursue ownership without their involvement.^[4]

Las Vegas hosts teams across major U.S. sports leagues: the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, who began play as an expansion franchise in the 2017-18 season; the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, who relocated from Oakland ahead of the 2020 season; and the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, who moved from San Antonio in 2018 and won championships in 2022 and 2023.^[6] Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics received approval to relocate to Las Vegas, with a new stadium targeted for 2028.^[7]

The NBA's Board of Governors is scheduled to meet on April 17, 2024, to discuss expansion plans, including potential teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. Approval would require 23 of 30 owners.^[4] The league's last expansion was in 2004, when it added the Charlotte Bobcats, now known as the Charlotte Hornets after reacquiring the name in 2014.^[3]

Las Vegas previously hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2007 at Thomas & Mack Center.^[3]

Sources

1. Yahoo Sports
   "LeBron James shuts down rumors he's interested in owning Las Vegas NBA franchise"
   April 10, 2024
   https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-shuts-down-rumors-that-hes-interested-in-owning-las-vegas-nba-franchise-062934573.html
2. ESPN
   "LeBron James loves Vegas, hopes to own NBA team there one day"
   December 7, 2023
   https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39124648/lebron-james-loves-vegas-hopes-own-nba-team-one-day
3. NBA.com
   "NBA In-Season Tournament page"
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.nba.com/in-season-tournament/2023
4. The Athletic (NYT)
   "Fenway Sports Group out of Las Vegas NBA expansion pursuit, sources say"
   April 9, 2024
   https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5440582/2024/04/09/fenway-sports-group-las-vegas-nba-expansion/
5. Bloomberg
   "LeBron James to Become Part Owner of Fenway Sports Group"
   October 2, 2021
   https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-02/lebron-james-to-become-part-owner-of-fenway-sports-group
6. NHL.com / WNBA.com
   Team history pages
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news
7. MLB.com
   "A's approved to relocate to Las Vegas"
   November 16, 2023
   https://www.mlb.com/news/athletics-relocation-to-las-vegas-approved