LeBron James: Owning franchise in Las Vegas the ultimate goal

Eventually, LeBron James will have to quit playing basketball. At the current rate, it may not be until he’s 50 years old, considering he’s still dominant at the age of 38 (almost 39).

Anyway, when James does retire — again, whenever that may be — it seems he already has some plans. And it’s no secret that involves owning an NBA franchise, along with perhaps a few business associates and friends.

James spoke about that possibility from Las Vegas, where the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to play the New Orleans Pelicans in the In-Season Tournament semifinals on Thursday night.

Already, reports have linked James to owning a potential expansion team in Vegas. So has Shaquille O’Neal (more on that in a minute). Now, James himself is confirming those rumors.

“Hopefully I can bring my franchise here one day,” James told reporters, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “That’s the ultimate (goal).”

These comments came after commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the NBA does indeed have expansion on its radar. 

And a couple weeks after O’Neal mentioned the possibility of owning a franchise in Vegas at some point as well. 

“If there’s ever an NBA team that’s going to come here, I would definitely like to be involved,” O’Neal said, via Arash Markazi of The Messenger.  “With LeBron, without LeBron, I just want to be involved.”

So, very clearly, does LeBron.