When a photo popped up on Instagram showing LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Misko Raznatovic– the agent for NBA MVP Nikola Jokic – lounging on a yacht in Saint Tropez, the internet did what it does best: overanalyze everything.
Raznatovic’s caption didn’t help matters: “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!” With no official statement, fans and media quickly speculated that LeBron might be eyeing a spot on the Denver Nuggets or orchestrating some kind of player movement.
But as it turns out, this wasn’t about teaming up on the court – it was about changing the game entirely.
A League of Their Own? LeBron and Co. Are Thinking Global
According to Front Office Sports, the Saint Tropez meeting revolved around early talks to launch a brand-new international basketball league. The project – still in its infancy – would feature 12 teams (six men’s, six women’s) competing across eight global cities, with a touring format similar to F1 or LIV Golf.
Unlike the NBA, this league wouldn’t allow dual participation. Players would sign on full-time – but they’d also gain something they currently can’t get from the NBA: ownership stakes.
This idea didn’t come out of nowhere. James has been vocal for years about wanting a bigger role in shaping the future of the sport. He’s previously said he hopes to own an NBA franchise someday. With the NBA’s rules currently blocking active players from ownership, this proposed league offers a workaround – and a power move.
Maverick Carter is reportedly spearheading the effort with support from global investors, per Eurohoops.net, the first outlet to hint that the yacht summit wasn’t about player trades but league ambitions.
Interestingly, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced earlier this year that the NBA is exploring its own European league. With James and Carter now working on a similar venture, it sets up a potentially fascinating shakeup in global hoops.
For now, it’s just talk – but if these plans come to life, the basketball world could be headed for its biggest disruption since the Dream Team.
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