LeBron James reaffirms desire to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas
LeBron James still wants to help bring an NBA team to Las Vegas. The 38-year-old NBA legend shared this desire with the media shortly after helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the inaugural in-season tournament.
"My enthusiasm about being here post-career, bringing a team here, has not changed," LeBron said. "The fans are amazing here. They have everything here already, a WNBA team, a baseball team coming in soon, an NFL team, a hockey team, and F1 was just here ... I think the NBA will be another great addition to this city."
Las Vegas is a growing sports destination. The Las Vegas Aces dominance in the WNBA has helped raise the standard in the city, while the NBA's Summer League is a resounding success every season. The city is a prime candidate for when the league decides to expand. According to Adam Silver, the potential growth of the league is high on his agenda.
“We will turn to expansion once those new media deals are done,” Silver said in July at the APSE conference. “It’s not a sure thing but, as I’ve said before, I think it’s natural that organizations grow over time.”
Having a global name such as LeBron involved in founding, building, and growing a new NBA franchise is the ideal scenario. Las Vegas would instantly become a big market team due to its location, weather, and nightlife. Furthermore, LeBron's presence within the front office or ownership group would add immediate legitimacy and would serve as a huge draw for talent around the league.
However, organizational expansion takes time. When the league is ready to add some new franchises, there will be a significant period of due diligence and deliberation. Las Vegas is a front-runner, and LeBron's support will play a big role. But for now, nothing is set in stone.
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