While the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for another push at the NBA championship next season, LeBron James is reportedly being linked to a bold off-court project — the creation of a rival basketball league backed by Saudi investment.
For years, whispers have circulated in NBA circles about an overseas league designed to challenge the NBA’s dominance. Now, according to the Sports Business Journal, multiple executives believe James and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter are quietly working behind the scenes to help bring the idea to life.
The rumored league would reportedly be bankrolled by the Saudi Investment Fund, drawing parallels with the disruptive impact of LIV Golf in the world of professional golf. Its aim: to lure top superstars away from the NBA with massive financial incentives.
“I’ll tell you, you may think I’m crazy, but I think the catalyst of this [NBA Europe] going quicker is they’re worried LeBron and Maverick are going to get the Saudis and start like a league,” one NBA executive told the outlet. “I think without a question they [the NBA] think it’s direct competition.”
Asked why James would want to compete with the very league that made him a global icon, the executive added bluntly: “LeBron doesn’t give a sh**. Not if Saudi gives LeBron $200 million in cash and calls it a night.”
James has long spoken of his desire to own an NBA franchise after his playing career. But with the league appearing to prioritize its own European expansion rather than adding new teams in North America, his path to ownership may be narrowing. A Saudi-backed league could provide both an alternative investment route and a platform to influence the sport on a global level.
Reports suggest the new league could potentially launch as early as the 2026–27 season, though details remain scarce. Questions about structure, governance, and player recruitment remain unanswered, and James himself has not publicly addressed the speculation.
For now, the 39-year-old superstar’s immediate focus is expected to remain on the Lakers, who are retooling their roster for another title run. Yet the rumors point to an intriguing subplot — James not only chasing another championship ring but also weighing whether to redefine his role in the sport’s future.
If the whispers prove true, LeBron James may not just be preparing for life after the NBA. He could be plotting to build the league’s first true rival.
