Investors Eye $5 Billion Rival Basketball League with Maverick Carter’s Help

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Maverick Carter, LeBron James‘ longtime business manager, has been tapped as an adviser by a group of investors aiming to raise $5 billion to create an international basketball league to rival the NBA, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. The plan, first reported by Bloomberg, involves forming a league with six men’s and six women’s teams that would play globally.

The investment group, which includes multiple private equity funds, seeks to establish a league that could challenge the NBA’s dominance. Sources told ESPN that while Carter is closely associated with James, the Lakers star is not involved in the project. James, who has a player option for the 2025-26 season, has previously expressed interest in owning an NBA team after retiring.

Bloomberg reported that the group is exploring funding from private equity and sovereign wealth funds. However, current NBA rules limit private equity stakes in teams to 20% and prohibit such investors from holding governing roles. The league would mark the first significant 5-on-5 basketball competitor to the NBA since the American Basketball Association (ABA) folded in the 1970s. The NBA absorbed four ABA teams — the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs — after its collapse.

The WNBA, founded in 1996, faced early competition from the American Basketball League (ABL), which folded after two and a half seasons. More recently, the 3-on-3 league Unrivaled has attracted WNBA stars, though rookie sensation Caitlin Clark opted not to participate.

Details about the proposed league’s structure, team locations, and timeline remain unclear. The NBA has not publicly commented on the potential rival league. If successful, the venture could reshape the global basketball landscape and provide new opportunities for players and investors alike.