For many players, figuring out the life after basketball can be a challenge. While considered “old” in sports terms, most players hang up their boots in their thirties or even earlier with their whole life ahead of them. Some choose to stay out of the limelight, others opt for a second career in the media, and a select few even hope to become the owner of a franchise in the very sport they dominated for years. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and more have expressed similar desires as they head closer to retirement. However, it looks like Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony might beat his peers to it, as he has already started laying the groundwork for his ultimate dream.

Only a year into his retirement, Carmelo has made a massive business move by joining the ownership of an expansion team in Australia’s National Basketball League. While the location of the team has not been determined yet, Melo and NBL’s President Larry Kestelman are in constant talks to make the final decision. Apart from that, he will also hold the responsibility of being the global ambassador of the league’s Next Stars Program, which produced young guns like LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey.

In an interview with Marc J. Spears, Carmelo revealed what led to him taking this giant leap, “I think it’s time that the rest of the world knows exactly what’s happening over there in the NBL in Australia.”

Then, he revealed his goal of using his basketball experience and business knowledge as the means to develop the league and bring everything together. When asked if he wanted a piece of an NBA team at some point, Carmelo Anthony didn’t hesitate one bit before saying, “Now! I want it now!”

“It’s something that I am working towards as we speak. I am actually excited about the whole opportunity… The time is now,” Carmelo Anthony concluded. With an average NBA team’s value roundabouts being in the range of $4 billion, as per Sportico, Melo understands what a huge opportunity it would be to own a team in the league. So, he made it very clear that the NBL move might be the beginning of his eventual plan to become an owner in the NBA, where he spent 19 long years.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are also eyeing the same prize

Carmelo is not the only superstar with the ultimate goal of owning a team in the NBA. With constant talks of the league soon expanding to new cities, LeBron James and Kevin Durant have also made their intentions clear. During the inaugural in-season tournament in Las Vegas back in December, King James began manifesting owning a team in the very city sometime in the future, “It’s a sports town. Hopefully, I can bring my franchise here one day.” With his minority stake in Liverpool FC and Boston Red Sox, Bron has a little bit of experience being the owner of prestigious franchises, which could help him fulfill his NBA dream post-retirement.

Even Kevin Durant, in an interview with Bleacher Report, claimed that he would love to own a part of the Seattle Supersonics if Adam Silver decided to bring a team back to the city, “Without a doubt… that’s a dream come true.” Notably, Seattle was the city where KD started his NBA career back in 2007 when he was drafted 2nd overall by the Supersonics. Unfortunately, the team was forced to switch cities and become the OKC Thunder a year later despite the arrival of the superstar. Adam Silver recently revealed that Las Vegas and Seattle are two primary locations the league might consider expanding into. So, KD and LeBron might not be too far!

Marc J. Spears even speculated that there might be a possibility of Melo and LeBron partnering in the future to get to that dream together. And it is highly likely considering their strong friendship that has lasted over two decades. Recently also investing in Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier’s WNBA ‘Unrivaled’ league, Melo has gradually started to step into the business side of basketball. And his new ownership ties in Australia only hint at bigger things in the future.

What are your thoughts?

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow in what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.