LeBron James Reversed His Decision to Own an NBA Team in Las Vegas

Nearly four years ago, on The Shop, four-time NBA MVP and champion LeBron James expressed his desire to own an NBA team in Las Vegas. However, based on a recent interview, it appears he may have changed his stance.

LeBron James Denies Plans to Own an NBA Team

With team governors expected to vote next week on whether the NBA can proceed with the bidding process for potential expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, the topic of ownership resurfaced. Speaking to reporters Wednesday night after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124–116 win over the Houston Rockets, James was asked if he still had interest in owning an NBA expansion team. His answer, however, was an eloquent “Not at all.”

James has been partnered with global sports investment firm Fenway Sports Group (FSG) since 2011. The group owns the Boston Red Sox and Premier League club Liverpool, but according to The Athletic, it is not currently planning to bid for a potential NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.

The report also notes that FSG’s lack of interest is tied to the expected cost of securing a franchise, should the league move forward with expansion. The expansion fee is believed to fall somewhere between $7 billion and $10 billion.

Forbes estimates James’ net worth at $1.4 billion, meaning he wouldn’t be able to cover the expansion fee on his own. He would also need to retire from playing before pursuing ownership of an NBA team, and it’s possible that any new franchises could begin play as early as the fall of 2028.

In other news about LeBron James, the modern legend has recently broken his 18-Year 10+ point streak, costing bettors quite a bit of cash. Some have even speculated that the 41-year-old player is slowly starting to lose his edge, fueling rumors that he might want to transition to NBA team ownership. Those rumors, however, have yet to materialize.

What’s the NBA’s Expansion Status As of 2026?

The NBA hasn’t expanded since 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats joined the league. According to ESPN, league executives anticipate that either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies would shift to the Eastern Conference, while new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas would be placed in the Western Conference if expansion is approved. This alignment would give each conference 16 teams.

If 23 of the NBA’s 30 governors vote to move forward with exploring expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle at next week’s league meetings, approval to add teams in both cities could come as early as this summer. The league typically holds its Board of Governors meetings in July, which coincides with the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.