“I would love to bring a team here at some point,” James mentioned. “That would be amazing. I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now, I believe . . . with the [Milwaukee] Bucks and Atlanta [Hawks for a preseason exhibition]. He probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes through from NBA players, so I want the team here, Adam. Thank you.”
The four-time MVP added that the fan make stronger in Las Vegas were “wonderful.”
Las Vegas, which added the NHL’s Golden Knights in 2017 and the NFL’s Raiders in 2020, has been discussed along Seattle, which landed the NHL’s Kraken in 2021, as conceivable NBA expansion locations. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (I) and previous Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan (D) each publicly lobbied for NBA groups in 2021, and the towns have hosted preseason NBA video games this week.
While denying a rumor about conceivable expansion in 2024, Silver mentioned in June the NBA “invariably would expand,” calling Las Vegas, which is house to the NBA’s Summer League, “a great sports market,” and noting the WNBA’s Seattle Storm was once “doing spectacular.”
James, 37, has a billion-dollar internet value, in accordance to Forbes, after incomes just about $400 million in NBA wage coming into this season and inking an entire life contract with Nike, amongst different endorsement offers. He not too long ago signed a two-year, $97 million extension with the Lakers that runs during the 2024-25 season and has mentioned that he wants to proceed taking part in in the NBA till he can team up together with his 18-year-old son, Bronny, who might be draft-eligible in 2024.
Through his funding in the Fenway Sports Group in 2021, James holds minority possession stakes in MLB’s Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, the English football membership.
The NBA, which has had 30 groups because it added Charlotte in 2004, most certainly will wait to increase till after it reaches a brand new collective bargaining settlement with the National Basketball Players Association and a brand new media rights offers with its tv and virtual companions. The present CBA runs during the 2023-24 season, whilst the league’s media rights offers will expire after the 2024-25 season. The NBA and NBPA were engaged in CBA extension talks in fresh months.