LeBron James is arguably the best basketball player to ever play the game. The King has been the face of the NBA for 22 seasons. However, what if James was no longer playing basketball in the NBA? James’ long-time friend and business partner, Maverick Carter, is allegedly attempting to create and run a new international basketball league to “challenge” the NBA. Carter and his group are plotting to raise over $5 billion from private capital sources. Reports also state that UBS Group Ag and Evercore Inc. have been linked to the project.
According to The Sun, Maverick Carter and his group allegedly want to try and lure the NBA’s biggest stars to their new league. Names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and many more have been thrown around. The new league would contain six men’s and women’s basketball teams. They would also play in eight cities around the world. The host of the F1 Grand Prix, Singapore, has already been rumored to be one of the eight locations. The league would also spend two weeks at each location. However, the source has confirmed that LeBron will not participate in the business venture. Although some sports fans think, “This is a fail waiting to happen.”
Basketball Fans React to the Possibility of LeBron James playing in Mavericks Carter’s New International League
Those same fans took to social media to voice their opinions on the subject.
“Why would LeBron support a challenge to the NBA,” asked one fan.
“This is a fail waiting to happen, the NBA viewerships are already down,” said another.
Finally, one other fan said, “LeBron isn’t interested in creating a new league, he’s establishing leverage. He will force the NBA to allow him to acquire ownership of an NBA expansion franchise.”
It seems many fans are confused about the point of this new international basketball league.
However, despite the negative feedback, it is unknown when this new league will be officially revealed. Carter and James go back a very long time. The two would meet during their childhood days in Akron, Ohio. James would then bring Carter and a few others with him when he was finally drafted into the NBA. The pair of LeBron James and Maverick Carter co-founded TheSpringHill Company in 2020. They have experience working together, which may give Maverick all of the confidence in the world to try and get James on board with this new basketball league.
LeBron James does not have much time left in his professional basketball career. LBJ recently turned 40 years old and is in the middle of his 22nd NBA season. If Maverick Carter wants the face of the NBA to leave the NBA, things will have to move pretty fast. LeBron has a player option in his contract with the Lakers after this season. Could fans see The King in a new league?