Lakers News: Retired Star Confirms Rumblings About LeBron James’ Potential NBA Franchise Purchase

Could LeBron start a business empire in his next chapter?

LeBron James has done more than enough to establish himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history over his soon to be 21 seasons in the league. The career scoring crown, four championships, and pure physical domination on the court since he was 18 years old puts any of that debate to bed.

It's assumed that James will play at least two more seasons in the league -- just enough time to be on an NBA court with his son Bronny, a goal that he's made no secret of the past few years -- before putting an end to his storied career.

But whenever LeBron decides to close this chapter of his life -- what happens next?

Something else that James has hinted at wanting to do at some point is to have an ownership stake in an NBA team, a move that would be a full circle moment for a legend that's been toward the top of the league ever since he joined it in 2003.

But could LeBron turn that dream into reality?

He wouldn't be alone in that scenario, as Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan sold his majority ownership in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion in recent days.

LeBron's net worth reportedly exceeds $1 billion, and he'll have made over $530 million in on-court earnings when his current contract expires in two seasons, per Spotrac.

Money won't be an issue for LeBron when it comes to getting acquainted with the ownership side of the game, and NBA legend Tracy McGrady hinted that James could become the owner of an expansion team when he ends his playing career.

Las Vegas has been a city surrounded by expansion rumors, and with Sin City showing that they can host multiple professional sports teams, plus the NBA Summer League taking place there since 2004, it makes since that the league would want to put establish permanent roots there.

Whether an expansion team in Vegas actually becomes a reality remains to be seen. But if an NBA team ends up in the city, one of the NBA's greatest players could be watching it all unfold from the owners suite.

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