In a recent turn of events, basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal has expressed interest in establishing an NBA franchise in the city known for its glitz and glamour - Las Vegas. Initially, O'Neal had his sights set on sole ownership of the potential team but later opened up to the idea of collaboration with other NBA stars like LeBron James.
O'Neal's Ownership Ambitions
O'Neal, who currently works as a broadcaster on TNT's Inside the NBA, was quoted saying, "I would like to have my group. I know Vegas hasn't been awarded an NBA team yet, but if they ever get to a point where they are awarded a team, I would like to be a part of that. I don't want to partner up with nobody. I want it all for myself." This isn't O'Neal's first venture into ownership. He was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022, showing his ongoing interest in this aspect of the sport.
However, O'Neal also indicated his willingness to work with others. "If there's ever an NBA team that's going to come here, I would like to be involved, with LeBron, without LeBron, I just want to be involved," he stated. Despite his initial desire for sole ownership, it seems that O'Neal is open to joining forces with other influential figures in the world of basketball.
LeBron James: A Potential Ally?
One such figure is LeBron James, a former teammate of O'Neal at the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009-10 season. Now an active player for the Los Angeles Lakers, James has shown support for bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas. Beyond the court, James has business experience as he owns a two percent stake in the Liverpool Football Club.
Transition from Player to Owner
The transition from NBA player to team owner isn't a new trend. The most notable example is Michael Jordan, who served as the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. This shift in roles offers former players a chance to continue influencing the sport they love, even after their playing days are over.
O'Neal himself stated, "I want to be involved. There are two types of owners. There's the owner that just has the bragging rights, and I'm the partial owner, and there's guys that like to make decisions. I, at some point, would like to be in on the decision-making process." It's clear that O'Neal doesn't merely want ownership for the sake of prestige - he wants to actively contribute to the team's direction and success.
Future Ownership Prospects
Looking towards the future, other players have also expressed interest in team ownership. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors shared, "Absolutely. Understanding the business and how it's run...It fascinates you to understand where the future's headed. To know that you can be part of an ownership group that's ushering the NBA to its super prime, from viewership to basketball-related income coming in."
However, it's worth noting that no player currently holds majority ownership or governorship of an NBA franchise. If O'Neal's plans come to fruition, it could mark a significant step forward in this regard.
In terms of sports diversification, O'Neal made it clear that his interests lie specifically with basketball and potentially football, but not baseball. He stated, "Not baseball. Football, maybe, basketball definitely, but not baseball."
As we wait to see if Las Vegas will indeed be awarded an NBA franchise, the potential involvement of figures like Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James adds an exciting dimension to the prospect.