SUMMARY
- LeBron James reiterated his desire to own an NBA franchise.
- James also opened up about the team he thinks does a great job at draft picks.
LeBron James has kept no secrets about the fact that he wants to own an NBA franchise later in his life. Recently, he even opened up about which current NBA team’s employees he might try to poach.
On the first episode of “Mind the Game”, James and former NBA player JJ Reddick discussed various topics. One of their points of discussion was the NBA draft picks and how teams look at “potential”. He pointed out that the middle picks are usually the ones that bring about success.
LeBron James said, “Our league has been feast off potential, guys with potential…It’s been grasped on potential like that has been, that’s the whole thing of the lottery. The whole thing of the lottery pick 1 through 13 or 14 I don’t even know what it is now when it cuts off like you’ve been a lottery pick, but it makes sense why those guys that’s like 16 to 30, 16 to 42 why those guys be on real contending teams making impacts.”
LeBron says “Our league has been feast off potential —- Those guys that are 16-32nd pick, Why are those guys always on the same contending teams making impacts?”
Also jokingly says he’ll hire OKC staff to scout players for his future NBA team since they’re so good at their… pic.twitter.com/zFq1b26yf2
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) March 19, 2024
It was surprising that James, who was a #1 draft pick in 2003, said this. Reddick responded by claiming that it is always the same teams that do well in the drafts and the same teams that mess up. The Los Angeles Lakers star declared his future tactics after he owns a franchise, “I’ll tell you what when I get my team, the teams that draft well, those guys will be working for me for sure,”
King James also named his preference. He claimed that the Oklahoma City Thunder do an amazing job at draft picks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have drafted some of the top NBA talents over the years
The OKC general manager Sam Presti is known for making some solid picks over the years. Stats also show that OKC draft picks are tactically sound. Going as far back as 2007, the OKC Thunders picked Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. KD went on to become an MVP in 2014 and earned two NBA championships. Green also became an NBA champion in 2023.
Highest OKC draft picks under GM Sam Presti
2022 Chet Holmgren 2nd
2007 Kevin Durant 2nd
2009 James Harden 3rd
2008 Russell Westbrook 4th pic.twitter.com/PJOchyxnuX— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 24, 2022
In 2008, OKC drafted Russel Westbrook, who earned the MVP award in 2017. In 2009, they drafted James Harden. He earned the MVP award a year after Westbrook in 2018. More successful drafts include Cole Aldrich (2010), Steven Adams (2013), and Domantas Sabonis (2016)
LeBron James has expressed a desire to own an NBA franchise based in Las Vegas
In 2022, LeBron James opened up about wanting to own a franchise based in Las Vegas. “I would love to bring a team here at some point, that would be amazing,” he said in October 2022, according to Forbes.
“It’s the best fan base in the world and I would love to bring a team here… I want a team here Adam, thank you.”
In December 2023, James played and won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament in Las Vegas. When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver presented James with the MVP award, he joked, “I’m sorry, but it doesn’t come with a franchise.”
LeBron James:
“It’s crazy to say this but Vegas is a sports town…hopefully I can bring my franchise here one day.”
(via @JesseNews3LV) pic.twitter.com/hLJb5ggwmO
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 7, 2023
LeBron James will not be new to ownership of a team. Although a minority, James has a share in the English Premier League team Liverpool. He reportedly has a two percent share in the Liverpool ownership.
It may sound small but it was a shrewd investment as he acquired the share for around $6.4 million in 2011 and in 10 years his stake was worth over $80 million. It will be interesting to see how James puts his business acumen to use in his NBA franchise selection.