The NBA has had 11 expansions throughout its history, the last of which occurred in 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets) joined the league. Prior to that, two teams were added in 1995, expanding the market to Canada with the addition of the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies (now the Memphis Grizzlies). The question many fans are asking is when the next expansion will happen and if the league will grow like the NFL with 32 teams. Back in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when arenas were empty, Commissioner Adam Silver commented that the league was reconsidering the idea of expansion after nearly two decades, with the cities of Seattle – once home to the historic SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) – and Las Vegas, a city that has seen several teams relocate in recent years, including the NFL’s Raiders and MLB’s Athletics, who will move in 2028 when their new stadium is completed.

The Two Big Billionaire Groups Backing Lebron James

Speaking of Las Vegas, it’s no secret that LeBron James, the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, has expressed his desire to own an NBA team in Sin City once he retires from the league. At nearly 40 years old, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, who is still performing at an elite level, could potentially achieve this goal with the support of two major groups already deeply involved in the sport. One is Fenway Sports Group, known for owning the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, which has partnered with LeBron since 2021. The other is RedBird Capital, the owners of AC Milan, who purchased the assets of the XFL for $15 million and, along with Dwayne Johnson and then transformed it into the United Football League (UFL). RedBird Capital has also invested in LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company and is affiliated with Fenway Sports Group.

Currently, all three groups are working together and are well versed in sports management, making them a strong alliance to secure an NBA team when the bidding opens. Adam Silver, just tell us which city or cities are going to get a new NBA team! RedBird Capital’s work with Dwayne Johnson shows that they could use the same strategy with LeBron – having a high-profile figure as the face of the franchise, similar to what David Beckham has done with Inter Miami in the MLS. Given LeBron’s stature, he will certainly have some advantages over other competitors when the expansion is announced, although even with the backing of these powerful groups, whose combined wealth exceeds $20 billion, nothing is guaranteed.

LeBron’s Big Rival for the Team in Las Vegas

According to Forbes, the NBA’s average team value is growing the fastest and includes three of the 10 most valuable teams in the world: the Warriors (2), Knicks (5) and Lakers (8). This makes owning an NBA team an incredible business opportunity for wealthy investors, and many “sharks” are ready to buy one. One of those “sharks” is Bill Foley, the owner of the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights, who is highly respected by the people of Las Vegas. Foley is also a partner in the T-Mobile Arena, which is the proposed venue for a future Las Vegas NBA team – unless a new arena is built. Considering that the newest arena, the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, set a high standard with its nearly $2 billion price tag, building a new arena would require another massive investment on top of buying the team. This could complicate matters if Foley decides to block the NBA team from using the T-Mobile Arena should he fail to secure ownership of the team.

In any case, it’s easier said than done, and the commissioner will first have to decide which cities will be part of the NBA’s expansion. As for LeBron James, he would have to retire first. We’ll see him play well into his 40s and whether he’ll win a fifth championship ring or whether the one he won in the 2020 bubble will be his last. If we take Michael Jordan’s experience as owner of the Hornets as an example, it’s also a cautionary tale, as his ownership tenure was largely unsuccessful. That doesn’t necessarily mean LeBron will have the same outcome. Known as “LeGM” for his influence in shaping rosters, LeBron will likely have a better chance of succeeding in creating a new team. For now, we’ll have to wait and see, but it’s reasonable to assume that this issue will be resolved by the end of the decade.