LeBron James interested in helping David Beckham bring MLS team to Miami

Heat forward LeBron James is seen here at the NBA Finals with David Beckham. (Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Heat forward LeBron James said that he is interested in exploring bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami and is collaborating with retired soccer star David Beckham, reports Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

James' soccer pedigree includes a minority ownership stake in the English Premier League club Liverpool. The South Florida area hasn't had an MLS team since 2002, when the Miami Fusion played at Lockhart Stadium.

"There's some interest on both sides," James said. "David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years. I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure. There's interest on both sides but it's preliminary talks." "The research is still being made out," James said. "I think it could be huge. You never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There's a lot of soccer players, there's great youth soccer players here and people love the city as well. That definitely would help."