LeBron James Could Outshine Michael Jordan in One Off-Court Venture, Claims Former NBA All-Star
Michael Jordan, the undisputed GOAT of basketball, has built a formidable empire off the court. His Air Jordan brand, which is a cornerstone of Nikeâs success, is a global phenomenon. Still, his influence extends beyond sneakers. In 2006, Jordan became the minority owner of an NBA franchise, the Charlotte Hornets. Later, becoming the majority owner. But could there be another challenger to Jordanâs business crown? Yes, there is, and one of the former NBA All-Stars has even given his own opinion on why LeBron James is on the verge of becoming greater than âHis Airnessâ.
In the recent episode of the âGilâs Arena Podcastâ, Josiah Johnson brought up the topic that LeBron James had shown his interest in becoming an NBA team owner after he retires. He ended by putting up a question for the rest of the cast, âWill LeBron James be a better owner than Michael Jordan?â âI do think LeBron would have success as an owner because he knows what the product looks like, what the winning recipe is for success. I think he has that knowledge and being able to handpick a situation as an owner,â said Kenyon Martin in his response.
Kenyon Martin believes LeBron Jamesâ exceptional basketball IQ will be a significant asset in his role as a team owner. Martin argues that Jamesâ ability to analyze game situations, understand player dynamics, and make strategic decisions on the court will translate well to the complexities of running an NBA franchise. Just as James could dissect opponentsâ defensive schemes and devise effective countermeasures, Martin suggests he could apply similar analytical skills to evaluate player performance, assess coaching strategies, and navigate the intricacies of the NBA business landscape. âBut in this situation, he will have that where every decision will run through his desk. Being able to yay or nay, signs and trades, and things like that, I think it is a recipe for success for him,â said the All-Star during the podcast.
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Moreover, the former Denver Nuggets player has also emphasized the fact that having Maverick Carter and Rich Paul would be a great advantage for his team. Paul is one of the best sports agents in the market, so it is evident that when James becomes the owner of the team, Paul will definitely become the general manager. âItâs stuff like that he will have in place to be able to evaluate talent at the high school, college level, or stuff like that they already got the knowledge of and having success as a player with LeBron makes a good recipe for a successful organization,â said the All-Star. But the question still remains, How will LeBron James outshine Michael Jordan?
Polls of the dayWho do you think will have a bigger impact off the court?
Which moment do you think deserves a statue more?
Dwyane Wade’s historic induction
LeBron James’ iconic block in the 2016 Finals
Wade and LeBron’s alley-oop in Miami
LeBron’s 2012 Game 6 performance against the Celtics
Whats your Perspective on:Is LeBron James on track to outshine Michael Jordan in the business world?
Have an interesting take?Who do you think had the most iconic moment in NBA history?
Michael Jordan’s “The Shot”
Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game
Dwyane Wade’s Buzzer Beater
Do you think Isaac Okoro’s $38 million decision will impact Jarrett Allen’s future with the Nets?
Maybe, it depends on other factors
It can be speculated that Martin took Jordanâs ownership stint with the Charlotte Hornets into account. The Chicago Bulls icon took full control of the team that had won only 44 games in 2010. The next two years were only worse, as in 2011, the team had a W-L record of (34-38) which fell down to (7-59) the next year. Under Jordanâs ownership, the team has gone to the playoffs only two times, one in 2014 and another one in 2016, though they lost in both. After 2016, the Hornets never set foot in the playoffs again and Jordan, being disappointed with the team, sold it in 2023. Martin is hopeful that Rich Paul, who has brought up players like LeBron James, will be able to take Bronâs team to another level and hence the Los Angeles Lakers legend will have a better stint in ownership than Michael Jordan.
via Reuters
Last month, Carter himself had given a hint on the âPat McAfee Showâ that LeBron James is very hopeful of owning a team. Although Carter doesnât know when the Lakers legend will retire, he has given a hint that the champion still has some more years to play on the hardwood. Whether LeBron James will indeed outshine Michael Jordan in the ownership arena remains to be seen. But if this was to happen, which team would King James target?
Potential team under LeBron Jamesâ ownershipADVERTISEMENT
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Whatâs your perspective on:
Is LeBron James on track to outshine Michael Jordan in the business world?
Have an interesting take?Two years ago, LeBron had expressed a keen interest in owning a professional basketball team in Las Vegas. âI wanna own a team. Yeah, I want to buy a team, for sure. I would much rather own a team before I talk [about the game]. I want to own a team in Vegas. Yeah, I want the team in Vegas,â James said in an episode of âThe Shop,â in 2022.
Given the cityâs growing popularity as a tourist destination and its recent success in hosting major sporting events like the Super Bowl and the NHLâs expansion draft, Las Vegas has become an attractive option for potential NBA franchise owners. But there are many underlying factors in owning a team in Vegas. According to a Bloomberg report, an expansion team in the Vegas would require a huge amount of $7 billion in expansion fees and a stadium.
LeBron James currently has a net worth of $1.2 billion, which is short of the required amount of $6 billion. Even though he has shown his interest in partnering with Red Bull to own the team, it is still years away from finalizing. While the path to owning an NBA team in Las Vegas is likely to be challenging, Jamesâ ambition and influence could play a significant role in making it a reality.
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Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the âDual Threat Showâ as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
