LeBron James insists on owning an NBA team in Las Vegas during the press conference in their preseason loss to Phoenix Sun.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has made his intention know to the NBA commissioner Adam Silver about owning an NBA team in Las Vegas.
James stated this in their preseason loss to the Phoenix Sun where he scored 23 points in 17 minutes in the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing. I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now, I believe,” James said, alluding to the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks’ preseason trip to the United Arab Emirates that Silver is attending. “But he probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes through from NBA players.
“So, I want the team here, Adam. Thank you.”
The NBA does not currently allow team owners to play for their teams. This rule notably came up in 2001, when Michael Jordan was forced to give up his stake in the Washington Wizards when he decided to come back and play for them.
Silver was asked during his annual NBA Finals news conference about the league expanding beyond its current 30 teams and said there are no immediate plans to do so.
“We are not discussing that at this time,” Silver said. “As I said before, at some point, this league invariably will expand, but it’s not at this moment that we are discussing it.”
However, when asked specifically about Seattle and Las Vegas as potential expansion locations, Silver endorsed both locations.
“Those are wonderful markets,” Silver said. “We were in Seattle. I’m sorry we are no longer there. We have a WNBA team in Seattle in an almost brand-new building that’s doing spectacular. And Las Vegas, where we will be at our summer league in July, has shown itself to be a great sports market, as well.”
