In a surprising turn of events, LeBron James, the iconic Los Angeles Lakers superstar, could one day hold an ownership stake in the Boston Celtics, a franchise that has been a fierce rival of the Lakers for decades.
This intriguing possibility stems from reports that Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a sports investment company in which James is already a minority owner, is seriously contemplating a bid to purchase a significant share of the Celtics.
According to the New York Post, FSG is considering acquiring a 49 percent stake in the storied NBA franchise. If this deal comes to fruition, LeBron James would indirectly become a part-owner of the Celtics due to his existing relationship with FSG. However, there’s a notable complication that would prevent James from immediately taking on this role.
As an active NBA player, James cannot simultaneously hold ownership in another NBA team due to conflict of interest rules. This means that any potential ownership stake in the Celtics would have to be deferred until after he retires from playing.
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Fortunately, the timeline for FSG’s potential acquisition aligns with this stipulation. The sale, if it moves forward, wouldn’t be finalized until 2028—by which time James would be nearing 44 years old, making it unlikely that he would still be on the court.
LeBron James, who officially became a billionaire in 2022, has made no secret of his ambitions to follow in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and become an NBA team owner.
However, owning a minority stake in the Celtics through a third-party like FSG might not fully satisfy his aspirations.
James has previously expressed a strong desire to have a more direct role in team ownership, and a minority position might not provide the level of influence he envisions.
Given this, it’s conceivable that James might opt to sell his interest in FSG’s Celtics stake if the deal goes through. This would free him up to pursue a more significant ownership role in a future NBA franchise.
Many speculate that James could be eyeing an expansion team in Las Vegas, a city he has praised as having “everything” necessary to support an NBA franchise. Las Vegas has been a leading candidate for NBA expansion, and James’ involvement could be a key factor in bringing a team to the city.
In the coming years, as the landscape of NBA ownership evolves, it will be fascinating to see how LeBron James navigates his post-playing career ambitions.
Whether he ends up with a stake in the Celtics or pursues a new venture entirely, one thing is clear: James is determined to make his mark in the world of NBA ownership, just as he has done on the court.
