Citing Tom Brady, LeBron James teases broadcasting future after retirement: "It’s only right that I give back to sport"
In recent years, LeBron James has made it clear that he would like to own an NBA franchise after retirement. With the NBA potentially expanding in the not-so-distant future, there has been quite a lot of talk surrounding James bringing an NBA franchise to Las Vegas.
Despite that, it sounds as though James also has his sights set on making the transition to broadcasting.
While speaking in an interview with Mike Golic and his son, Mike Golic Jr., this week, James opened up on his future plans. As he explained, he is interested in following in the steps of NFL legend Tom Brady and transitioning into a broadcasting role once he retires.
“You know, I don’t know. I definitely love the sport. It would be great (becoming a broadcaster). I see Tom Brady doing it, and he’s been great so far. And, you know, we will see, even if it’s just a guest appearance, you know, one game or two when I’m done playing.
"But it’s always fun to give back to the game because the game has given me so much. So, if it’s basketball, if it’s football, if it’s whatever, I love the word ‘sport’, because it’s given so much to me and my family. And it’s only right that I give back to it.”
While James may have his sights set on an eventual move to broadcasting down the line, he recently inked a two-year extension with the LA Lakers. The extension will carry LeBron James through the 2025-26 season, so long as he opts into the final year of his contract.
Looking at a potential NBA expansion, and LeBron James' chances of bringing a franchise to Vegas
While nothing has been set in stone, there has been quite a bit of talk regarding an NBA expansion. As commissioner Adam Silver previously explained, the league wouldn't start entertaining talk of an expansion until finalizing their next media rights deal.
Now, with a new media rights deal finalized, talk has shifted to a potential expansion. Currently, the two frontrunners to land a franchise are Las Vegas and Seattle, with LeBron James expected to make a bid for the potential Vegas franchise.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, LeBron James' longtime friend and business partner, Maverick Carter, opened up on the situation:
“LeBron is absolutely determined to own an NBA team. But he’s still playing and I have no idea how much longer he’ll be around. I would have thought he would have retired a few years ago, but there he is with his beard, still graying, showing young people that ‘Grandpa’ is still playing.”
If James wants to dive headfirst into ownership, he will have to decide whether he wants to be an owner, or whether he wants to continue his career. With expansion talk heating up, only time will tell what the coming years have in store for the future Hall of Famer, and the NBA.