As the buzz around professional sports in Las Vegas continues to grow, one of basketball's most iconic figures, Shaquille O'Neal, has expressed his interest in establishing an NBA franchise in Sin City. A former NBA superstar and current broadcaster on TNT's Inside the NBA, O'Neal is no stranger to the world of basketball or business.
O'Neal's Ambition for Ownership
O'Neal initially had aspirations for sole ownership of this potential team. "I would like to have my group," said O'Neal. "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."
However, he later showed willingness to collaborate with other big names from the NBA, including LeBron James, his former teammate at the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009-10 season. "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," O'Neal added.
LeBron James: Potential Partner?
James, currently an active player for the Los Angeles Lakers, has previously shown support for bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas. Notably, James already has experience in sports ownership, holding a two percent stake in the Liverpool Football Club.
O'Neal's Past Experiences in Ownership
O'Neal himself was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022, giving him firsthand experience in the realm of team ownership. However, he expressed a clear preference for basketball over baseball when it comes to ownership. "Not baseball. Football, maybe, basketball definitely, but not baseball," O'Neal stated.
His ambition extends beyond mere ownership to being part of the decision-making process. "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," said O'Neal.
A Trend Among NBA Players
The transition from player to team owner is not a new trend among former NBA stars. Michael Jordan was the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets, setting a precedent for players interested in team ownership. Another current player, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, has expressed interest in owning a team in the future. "Absolutely. Understanding the business and how it's run," said Curry. "It fascinates you to understand where the future's headed."
Despite these trends, no player currently holds majority ownership or governorship of an NBA franchise. Whether O'Neal's aspirations will come to fruition remains to be seen. However, his interest adds to the growing conversation around potential expansion of the NBA into Las Vegas, a city that has already welcomed the NFL and NHL with open arms.