Maverick Carter, renowned business manager of LeBron James, has been called upon as an advisor by a group of investors seeking to raise 5 billion dollars to establish an international basketball league that would compete with the NBA, as reported by ESPN, confirming an initial report by Bloomberg published on Thursday.
The group, which includes several private equity funds, plans to create a league composed of six men's teams and six women's teams that would play games around the world, according to sources cited by ESPN. Although Carter, who has worked as a producer on various television and film projects with James, is closely associated with the Lakers' star, the same sources assured that LeBron James is not involved in this initiative.
James, whose current contract with the Lakers includes a player option for the 2025-26 season, has expressed interest in becoming an NBA team owner once his playing career is over. Despite Carter's involvement in this project, James has no ties to the proposal of this new international league.
Bloomberg reported that the group of investors may turn to private equity and sovereign funds to reach the $5 billion goal. Currently, private equity funds are limited to a 20% stake in NBA teams and are not allowed to play governance roles in the league.
The NBA has not faced a traditional 5-on-5 format rival league since the 1970s when the ABA disbanded and the NBA absorbed the Pacers, Nets, Nuggets, and Spurs. In the 1990s, the WNBA also faced competition from the American Basketball League, although that league folded after two and a half seasons.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El manager de LeBron James estaría a punto de crear una Liga baloncesto que rivalizaría con la NBA