After LeBron James shocked the basketball world earlier this month by signing a four year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, King James is now looking to take his talents to the owner’s box, according to his business partner.
In a new interview with Variety, Maverick Carter revealed that James is interested in owning and operating a professional U.S. basketball franchise once he retires from the NBA. Carter also went on to add that LeBron also has interests in exploring a football franchise as well. “He does like football and he’s looked at football ownership, so he’ll be owning a basketball team and running it,” he said.
Alongside James, Carter oversees Lebron’s expansive portfolio of business endeavors and investments, including his sports marketing company, LRMR, and media production company, Uninterrupted.
In 2011, James received a 2% stake in England’s Liverpool soccer club. According to Bloomberg, LeBron’s then-$6.5 million investment — through LRMR — has since grown to an estimated $32 million thanks to the club’s value rising from $477 million in 2010 to now approximately being valued at $1.6 billion, a sports investment banker told ESPN in May.
As one can expect, LeBron’s future foray into ownership of a U.S. sports franchise will only fuel fans’ ongoing career comparisons of James and the NBA legend Michael Jordan — who’s currently a majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.
While it may appear as an ambitious move to some, It’s no surprise that James has his eyes set on being the King of the executive suites. In May 2017, he told sports website, The Athletic, that he “will own a team someday.”
“I will own a team someday. That’s my next thing. Why do I want to own a team? I think it’ll be cool,” he said. “I’ll stay part of the game and still be able to put people in positions of power. I’ve always loved that, putting people in a position of power to feel like they can make a change and make things happen.”
Tell us #BallerNation, which sports franchise would you like LeBron to purchase?
