Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James still wants to own an NBA team in Las Vegas, but the league’s all-time scoring leader isn’t the only basketball legend interested in owning a team in Sin City figure.
“I want to have my own team,” Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal told The Courier-Journal. “I know Vegas hasn’t been awarded an NBA team yet, but if they get one one day, I’d love to be a part of it. I don’t want to be with anyone. “I want it all to belong. Myself. “
James first publicly called for expansion to Las Vegas almost a year ago and was asked Monday night to explain his focus on the city.
“It makes sense,” the 19-time All-Star told reporters after a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
He went on to cite the success of the area’s sports teams:
“Obviously, you’ve got the Raiders here, you’ve got the (Golden) Knights here, you’ve got the Aces here. F1 is coming soon. All-Star weekend has been a few times,” he said. “I think adding an NBA team here is just going to add momentum to this town.”
James was in Vegas for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday and cited the success of the NBA Summer League as part of the desert destination’s appeal.
“I think it’s just a matter of time and I hope I can be a part of it,” he said with a laugh.
In 2022, he used another preseason postgame press conference to put some pressure on NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“I would love to bring a team here at some point,” James said. “That would be great. I believe, I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now. But he’s probably seen every interview and transcript of NBA players. So, I hope the team is here, Adam. Thank you.”
NBA team ownership is nothing new to O’Neal, either. The 51-year-old became part owner of the Sacramento Kings in 2013 but sold his stake in the team last year to pursue partnerships with WynnBet and Wynn Las Vegas.
The eight-time All-NBA player has other ties to the city, including a Las Vegas-based Big Chicken restaurant chain that now has locations across the country.
Silver said he and James will have to wait for a team to come to the city of their choice — if that happens. He told the APSE conference in Las Vegas in July that the league was waiting for new media rights deals to be completed before considering expansion.
“If we’re going to look to expand, rather than potential new partners in the league feeling uncertain about what the deal is… it helps us set the value better,” Silver said. “…It’s not a sure thing once these new media deals close, but as I said before, I think it’s natural for organizations to evolve over time. There’s no doubt that people There’s tremendous interest in this market (Las Vegas). … We’re going to be looking at this market.”