A high-ranking NBA executive has voiced concerns that LeBron James and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter may be preparing to launch a Saudi-backed international basketball league, a move that insiders say is prompting the NBA to accelerate its own expansion plans.
The executive believes the NBA’s push to fast-track its NBA Europe initiative is not just about growth—it’s a defensive maneuver.
“I’ll tell you, you may think I’m crazy,” the exec told Sports Business Journal, “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”.
The rumored league would be backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, with Carter reportedly advising investors seeking to raise $5 billion for the venture. The format? A touring competition featuring 12 elite teams, six men’s and six women’s, playing in eight global cities, none of which are in the United States.
Speculation intensified after a now-viral photo surfaced showing LeBron, Carter, and Nikola Jokić’s agent Misko Raznatovic aboard a yacht in the French Riviera. Raznatovic captioned the image:
“Summer 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for Fall 2026!”—a cryptic message that many interpreted as a signal of the league’s impending launch.
In response, Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum have been meeting with European clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Fenerbahce, hoping to recruit them into a new NBA-affiliated European league. The goal is to lock in franchise fees between $500 million and $1 billion, and prevent defections to the rival league.
While LeBron has publicly distanced himself from Carter’s ambitions, insiders say the threat is real.
“LeBron doesn’t give a sh*t,” the exec added. “Not if Saudi gives LeBron $200 million in cash and calls it a night”.
With billions at stake and the sport’s global structure hanging in the balance, the race is on.
