An ambitious new international basketball league may be taking shape-and its potential success could revolve around one of the biggest names in sports history: LeBron James.
According to sports commentator Bill Simmons, a group of investors is raising $5 billion to create a high-profile basketball league that would operate outside the NBA, with plans to field six men’s and six women’s teams across the globe.
While the details remain limited, one connection has raised eyebrows: Maverick Carter, LeBron‘s close friend and longtime business partner, has signed on as an adviser.
Carter’s involvement has ignited speculation that James himself could be brought into the fold to give the venture a blockbuster launch. On his podcast, Simmons suggested that Carter is using the idea of LeBron’s participation as a major selling point in talks with backers.
“They’re telling people they have a couple of major stars to join-ones that will be jaw-dropping,” Simmons said. “And it’s pretty straightforward because Maverick Carter is running this or is one of the people involved in pushing it, that he’s dangling LeBron as one who will do it.”
Could LeBron James redefine basketball’s power structure?
Although James has not commented on the rumors and has no confirmed affiliation with the league, his potential involvement-even as a part-time player or ambassador-would be a seismic shift for global basketball.
Simmons speculated that other aging superstars such as Kevin Durant could also be on the radar, but emphasized that the project seems focused on high-profile veterans looking for a final chapter.
James, now 40, is nearing the twilight of his NBA career but continues to defy expectations.
In his 21st season, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game while shooting over 51 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc. Few athletes in history have maintained such high performance so late into their careers.
The idea of a rival league isn’t entirely new. In the 1970s, the ABA posed a serious threat to the NBA before the two merged. But this would be the most significant challenge since, and leveraging the name power of LeBron James could provide an unprecedented launchpad.
So far, no timeline or confirmed team locations have been announced, and it’s unclear how the league plans to recruit other talent.
Still, Carter‘s presence alone lends the project considerable credibility in business circles-and if LeBron were to come on board, it could instantly redefine the competitive landscape.
With global games, co-ed team structures, and investor momentum, the venture aims to blend sport with entertainment in a way few leagues have attempted.
And if LeBron James-one of the most influential athletes of all time-is truly in play, this new league might do more than just challenge the NBA. It could start a new chapter in basketball history.
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