LeBron James’ Las Vegas Bid in Tatters After Expected $10 Billion Price Scares Partners

LeBron James was set to be a part of the ownership group bidding for the Las Vegas franchise as soon as he retires.

LeBron James’ Las Vegas Bid in Tatters After Expected $10 Billion Price Scares Partners

LeBron James' team ownership dreams might be over (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • LeBron James' bid to own an NBA team in Las Vegas is unlikely after business partners withdraw due to high costs.
  • The estimated price for the Las Vegas expansion franchise is between $7 to $10 billion.
  • James has confirmed he will not participate in the bidding process for the Las Vegas franchise.

There is no guaranteed timeline to LeBron James‘ illustrious career, as the oldest player in the league continues to play at a surprisingly high level.

Sure, he has had many troublesome moments earlier this season, but the four-time champion has not only managed to overcome that, but he has also willingly taken a step back so that the Los Angeles Lakers can succeed.

After facing a lot of criticism, the father of three agreed to allow his former understudy, Austin Reaves, to overtake him as the No. 2 option, and has since been content with his effort on transition points and in defense.

All of this is so that he and his Lakers can potentially launch a championship bid this season. With time not being friendly to him, LeBron James might want to win a ring or two before hanging up his sneakers.

Whenever he retires, the league’s all-time leading scorer will naturally move into the business world, where his primary goal will be to continue his association with the NBA.

But now, that dream is in tatters after The Athletic revealed that James’ business partners, the Fenway Sports Group, are going to stay away from bidding for the Las Vegas expansion franchise.

They were put off by the rising cost, which could be in the region of $7 to $10 billion. Without their support, it is unlikely that LeBron James will ever be in the running to own an NBA franchise.

He might be the billionaire, but his own Lakers were recently valued at $10 billion. With prices soaring at such astronomical rates, the ‘King’ can not do much other than stand and watch others do it.

LeBron James confirms he will not be part of bid for Las Vegas franchise

With the Los Angeles Lakers stationed in Houston, Texas, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, their resident Texas journalist, traveled from Dallas to ask LeBron James about his role if a Las Vegas expansion team is awarded.

LeBron James' confirmed he will not be part of Las Vegas bid
LeBron James confirmed he will not be part of Las Vegas bid (Image via TSN/X)

LeBron James on potentially being part of a group bidding on a Las Vegas expansion team: “No, I’m not. Not at all.”

Tim MacMahon revealed

This effectively delays his ‘dream’ of being a team owner in the league that effectively helped him become one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports.

In the past, his close friend Maverick Carter revealed how interested James was in eventually becoming an owner. But with such valuations and the Fenway Sports Group backing out, the Lakers superstar might have to wait to join someone else’s bid as a minority owner.

LeBron James set to become all-time leader in games played

After their second game against the Houston Rockets, LeBron James is now just one game away from tying the great Robert Parish in all-time regular-season games played.

That means, if health permits, the 41-year-old will probably break the record in the upcoming road games on the East Coast. When Parish was talking about his record being overtaken, the Hall of Famer said:

I’m happy for you, and I’m proud, too. No player is better deserving to break that Iron Man record, that 1,611 games played record, than LeBron. He deserves it.

Robert Parish said on SiriusXM NBA Radio

It seems that, unlike other former players who have been resentful and critical of the Lakers’ superstar of late, the 72-year-old is ecstatic that his record will be broken by one of the greatest to ever play the sport.

Just like how it was when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was present, Parish is also scheduled to be at the Lakers’ upcoming road games. That way, he can be there to celebrate with LeBron James.

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