Will James Compete With NBA for Rival European Pro League, Backed by the Saudis?
Posted on: August 4, 2025, 12:49h.
Last updated on: August 4, 2025, 12:52h.
- Media reports say James looking to partner with Saudis to compete with NBA
- New European pro league would have 6 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams
LeBron James is focusing on preparing for his 23rd season on the court, with the Los Angeles Lakers. The four-time NBA MVP has already picked up the $52 million player option for the upcoming season, the last year of his contract.
Rival Euro Pro League
James posted on Instagram four days ago about ramping up on the training side for the new season, before the Lakers announced that Luka Dončić had agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension.
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said over the weekend “it would be great” if James retired as a Laker and that all interactions with James’ agent, Rich Paul, have been “positive and supportive.”
But James also appears to be focusing more on life after his playing career ends, if today’s reporting holds any truth.
Saudi Investment Fund Backing
Sports Business Journal is reporting that executives around the NBA believe James and his business partner Maverick Carter are two of the principal figures working behind the scenes to help bankroll a new European pro basketball league that would seemingly compete with the European league that the NBA is looking to launch.
The new league would be backed by the Saudi Investment Fund, the same group that backed LIV Golf, whch competes with the PGA and has lured over many of the top names in golf with multi-million contracts.
James has said in the past that he would like to own an NBA team. But there’s no timeline on expansion, and nothing has been predetermined, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in July.
James Returning for 23rd Season
The Sports Business Journal story said NBA Europe franchise fees are likely going to exceed $500 million. The story added the new NBA Europe pro league is two or three years away from launching, but that could change if the Saudi-backed league with James involved catches steam.
That league would reportedly have six men’s and six women’s teams playing in rotating global cities.
One NBA team executive was quoted: “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. I think without a question, they [the NBA] think it’s direct competition.
LeBron doesn’t give a sh**. Not if Saudi gives LeBron $200 million in cash and calls it a night.”
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