The NBA has been in talks for expansion. However, it seems Adam Silver may have some other plans prior to it. When speaking to Shaquille O’Neal, the commissioner opened up about possibly creating a new league! Silver has spoken at large about the scope of international basketball. The NBA has taken several measures to capitalize, but now the boss has a different view in mind. And before it begins, there could be a threat from LeBron James’ close friend.

Let’s first look at what Silver told Shaq. The 62-year-old flirted with the possibility of opening up an independent league overseas. “One of the things we’ve been discussing is whether, before adding NBA franchises in Europe, there’s an opportunity to create an independent league there. This could leverage the enormous interest in basketball in major European capitals like Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid—and other major cities that love basketball,” he told the Big Diesel.

But someone might beat him to it. As per Front Office Sports, Maverick Carter, a childhood friend of LeBron James, is apparently leading a group of investors to raise $5 billion. His objective is to start an international basketball league that directly rivals the NBA. Of course, if he does beat out the league, it could serve as a major obstacle to Adam Silver’s vision for international expansion.

So far, Carter seems to be in the early stages of doing so. But it does come as a surprise considering he is a business partner to LeBron James. With the King clearly stating his interest in owning an NBA team, this could also be a potential roadblock!

Kendrick Perkins had a say on the matter. “I thought yall said Bron was trying to own his NBA team when he retires… sounds like he trying to get his own league,” he wrote on X.

The question is, how much of a hand does the 22-season veteran have in this endeavor?

Is LeBron James involved with Maverick Carter in this unnerving hoops project?

The NFL has the XFL, and Saudi has brought in LIV Golf and Professional Fighters League- in short there’ve been rich players trying to disrupt normalcy. One question that came to my mind was- doesn’t the NBA already have the EuroLeague? But then you begin to really wonder, when a player is, let’s say, Austin Reaves- capability-wise, we all know where the guy’s gonna head. NBA, of course.

In reality, the NBA hasn’t had a direct competitor since the ABA, and from what we’re now seeing, Maverick Carter wants to end that monopoly.

Maverick Carter and LeBron James have often been partners in several business ventures of the NBA billionaire. They have started Uninterrupted together and are also partners in SpringHill, James’ production company. With that considered, there could be an assumption that he will join hands with his pal for his international basketball league plans.

So is he?

Despite Carter being the spearhead, LeBron James is reportedly not a part of the initiative.

Carter will be acting as an independent investor. So James’ goal to own an NBA franchise remains unharmed! Now, let’s take a look at what Maverick has in mind regarding the basketball league.

According to Bloomberg, the league plans to have six men’s and six women’s teams. They will be spread across eight cities as per the report. Only one location, in particular Singapore, is rumored to have a team. Other cities still remain in the dark. This hypothetical league was also keenly positioned by an unnamed source close to the situation as the “F1 of basketball.”

In addition, the name and the date to unveil the project are still in the works.