In the world of professional basketball, a new trend is emerging as former NBA players transition into team ownership. The latest to express interest in this venture is none other than Shaquille O'Neal, who has his sights set on establishing an NBA franchise in Las Vegas.
Shaquille O'Neal's Ambitions
As a former NBA superstar and current broadcaster on TNT's Inside the NBA, O'Neal has made it clear that he wants to be more than just a spectator in the sport he loves. Initially, O'Neal expressed a desire for sole ownership of the potential team. "I would like to have my group," O'Neal said. "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, O'Neal later showed a willingness to collaborate with other NBA stars. "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," said O'Neal. This isn't surprising considering O'Neal's past experience as a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022.
LeBron James: A Potential Ally?
LeBron James, an active player for the Los Angeles Lakers, also supports bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas. He and O'Neal were teammates at the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009-10 season, which could potentially make for a strong partnership in this endeavor. Beyond basketball, James has dipped his toes into sports ownership as well, holding a two percent stake in the Liverpool Football Club.
O'Neal's Ownership Aspirations
While O'Neal is interested in basketball and possibly football ownership, he has ruled out baseball. "Not baseball. Football, maybe, basketball definitely, but not baseball," said O'Neal. He further expressed his desire to be a part of the decision-making process as an owner. "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.
Other NBA Players in Ownership Roles
This trend of players transitioning into ownership isn't new. Michael Jordan, for instance, served as the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. Furthermore, 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."
However, it's important to note that no player currently holds majority ownership or governorship of an NBA franchise. Whether Shaquille O'Neal will break this mold remains to be seen, but his ambitions certainly mark an interesting development in the landscape of NBA ownership.