Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said after the team's April 9, 2024, game against the Golden State Warriors that he is no longer interested in owning an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas. When asked if he still wanted to own a franchise there following his playing career, James replied, "No, I'm not. Not at all."[1][2]

James, a four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star currently in his 21st season with the Lakers, had previously voiced support for a Las Vegas franchise. During the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals at T-Mobile Arena on December 7, 2023, he said, "It's a sports town. Hopefully I can bring my franchise here someday."[3][4]

The NBA has held the semifinals and final of its In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas since the 2023-24 season.[5]

Las Vegas has no NBA team but hosts franchises across other major professional sports leagues. The NHL's Vegas Golden Knights joined as an expansion team in 2017. The NFL's Las Vegas Raiders relocated from Oakland in 2020. The WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, relocated from San Antonio ahead of the 2018 season, won championships in 2022 and 2023. Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics received approval to relocate to Las Vegas and begin play in 2028.[6][7][8][9]

James has a business partnership with Fenway Sports Group, owner of MLB's Boston Red Sox and English Premier League club Liverpool FC. In October 2021, FSG invested $725 million in James's SpringHill Company.[10]

The Athletic reported on April 11, 2024, that Fenway Sports Group is not bidding on a Las Vegas NBA franchise amid expected fees up to $8 billion. A person close to James told the outlet that FSG's withdrawal makes it less likely James will pursue ownership.[11]

The NBA, which has not expanded since adding the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004, is discussing potential new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. Approval requires 23 of 30 current owners. The league's Board of Governors held meetings in mid-April 2024 but has not yet voted on expansion.[12][13]

Las Vegas hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2007.[14]

Sources

1. Fox News, "LeBron James no longer interested in owning NBA team in Las Vegas: report", April 12, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lebron-james-no-longer-interested-owning-nba-team-las-vegas-report
2. Yahoo Sports, "LeBron James shuts down speculation about owning NBA team in Las Vegas", April 12, 2024, https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-shuts-down-speculation-about-owning-nba-team-in-las-vegas-035057XXX.html
3. Associated Press, "LeBron James loves Las Vegas, hopes to own NBA team there someday", December 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/nba-lebron-james-lakers-las-vegas-4d8e5f0e9a2b4e1a8f0e1b2c3d4e5f6g
4. ESPN, "LeBron James: Las Vegas is a great sports town, hope to own team here", December 8, 2023, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39012345/lebron-james-hopes-own-nba-team-las-vegas
5. NBA.com, "NBA In-Season Tournament to culminate at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas", November 30, 2023, https://www.nba.com/news/nba-in-season-tournament-finals-vegas-2024
6. NHL.com, "Golden Knights announced as NHL expansion franchise", June 22, 2016, https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-announced-as-nhl-expansion-franchise-287469982
7. Raiders.com, "Raiders officially become Las Vegas Raiders", February 20, 2020, https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-officially-become-las-vegas-raiders-02-20-20
8. WNBA.com, "Las Vegas Aces History", accessed April 2024, https://aces.wnba.com/history/
9. MLB.com, "MLB owners approve A’s relocation to Las Vegas", March 28, 2024, https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-owners-approve-a-s-relocation-to-las-vegas
10. Fenway Sports Group, "Fenway Sports Group invests in LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company", October 28, 2021, https://www.fsgsportsgroup.com/news/fenway-sports-group-invests-in-lebron-james-and-maverick-carters-springhill-company
11. The Athletic, "Fenway Sports Group to pass on Las Vegas NBA expansion franchise", April 11, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5440584/2024/04/11/fenway-sports-group-nba-expansion-las-vegas/
12. NBA.com, "NBA Expansion History", accessed April 2024, https://www.nba.com/history/nba-franchises-expansion
13. ESPN, "NBA expansion talk heats up with Seattle, Vegas in focus", April 16, 2024, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/399XXXX/nba-expansion-seattle-las-vegas
14. NBA.com, "2007 NBA All-Star Game", accessed April 2024, https://www.nba.com/allstar/2007/