LeBron James isn’t ruling anything out these days, whether it’s where he plays next season, where he lives or what he does after he finally retires.
That includes ownership of his own NBA team. James admitted he’s thought about NBA ownership after his retirement, and with a billion-dollar Nike deal along with a number of other off-the-court business ventures, it’s clear he would have the money to do it.
The question is, of course, which NBA team does James want? Well, why not start with the Cleveland Cavaliers?
“To be an owner of any team would be crazy,” James told The Athletic (via Yahoo Sports). “If this thing opened up and I’m in a position financially, and I’ve got the right team around me, obviously. But who’s to say Dan will (sell)? I’ve always kept it just player/owner at this point. I guess once I come down to that point, if the conversation needed to be had, I’ll have it. But I don’t have it right now.”
The future is unwritten for James post-retirement, but he perhaps more than any current player has the most options and opportunities. Other players have said he’d make an excellent general manager, and he certainly could try his hand in coaching. But the business world is something he’s currently involved in, and sports franchise ownership is often the final frontier for successful businesspeople who want to have a bit of fun with their money. In fact, he’s already involved in sports ownership, as he’s a minority owner of Liverpool Football Club.
It’s likely James would make an owner who keeps its players happy, but it is unknown if Gilbert will be ready to move on from the Cavaliers. They’ve certainly had an interesting run while he’s been owner, though it’s pretty obvious that LeBron has had a lot to do with that.
