LeBron James‘ intentions of owning an NBA team have been well-known but is there a bigger secret he’s hiding? With his $1.2 Billion net worth, his reputation in the league, and reports of NBA expansion in the future, owning a team should not be much of a task for him. How about owning a league of his own? A lot more capital and a lot more factors to take into consideration. But has the plan been set into motion? That’s what Kendrick Perkins seems to suspect.

“I thought yall said Bron was trying to own his NBA team when he retires… sounds like he trying to get his own league,” Perkins posted on X. The former Boston Celtics star’s comment was sparked by a report from Bloomberg, which claimed that LeBron’s business partner, Maverick Carter, is advising a group of investors aiming to create an international basketball league that could rival the NBA.

Think about it—$5 billion in private capital, an international focus, and whispers of it being the F1 of basketball. That’s not just big. That’s groundbreaking. While sources close to Front Office Sports confirmed that Carter is spearheading this ambitious effort, they also clarified that LeBron isn’t officially involved. Yet.

Here’s the kicker though: the league isn’t planning to compete on American soil. It’s reportedly setting its sights on cities outside North America, with Singapore being the only potential location mentioned so far. Imagine basketball going global in a way we’ve never seen before. The idea of a touring league with six men’s and six women’s teams traveling to eight cities?

And let’s not forget who’s behind the financial playbook. As reported by Bloomberg, powerhouses like multinational investment bank & financial services company UBS Group AG and global independent investment banking advisory firm Evercore Inc. are helping raise the money, targeting deep pockets—wealthy individuals, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors. That’s some serious backing.

If this league gets off the ground, it would be the first real challenger to the NBA since the ABA merger in 1976. Sure, the EuroLeague is great, but it doesn’t compete with the NBA when it comes to drawing top talent. This new league, however, could change potentially everything.

Could this be the next big shakeup in the basketball world? With NBA ratings under scrutiny, the timing feels… interesting. And if Bron decides to get involved, it could shake up the entire league.

What could lead to the shift in LeBron James’ original intent of owning an NBA team?

LeBron James has never been shy about his dream of owning an NBA team in Las Vegas. Back in October 2022, after playing a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, LeBron further made his intentions crystal clear.

“I would love to bring a team here at some point, that would be amazing,” he said enthusiastically. “It’s the best fan base in the world and I would love to bring a team here… I want a team here Adam, thank you,” Bron added. You can feel the passion behind those words. But here’s the catch: according to a Bloomberg report, this dream doesn’t come cheap.

The proposed NBA expansion team in Las Vegas is projected to cost a jaw-dropping $7 billion. That includes the expansion fee and a shiny new stadium, making it the most expensive sports franchise in U.S. history. To put that in perspective, it’s even pricier than the $6.05 billion spent on the NFL’s Washington Commanders last year.

On the other hand, $5 Billion to own the aforementioned international league. A long-held dream and NBA’s popularity or a league of your own where you call the shots and with the right strategy could one day rival the NBA. It will be interesting to see what decision LeBron James makes.