Mark Cuban, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal explore the idea of joining forces.
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal once considered buying the Phoenix Suns but withdrew when Mat Ishbia took over. Although O’Neal joked about NBA ownership, he made it clear he wasn’t willing to compete with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for the team.
Recently, O’Neal hinted at another opportunity, suggesting a potential partnership with future Hall of Famer LeBron James and former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for an NBA expansion team. O’Neal discussed the idea on “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” sharing that Cuban expressed openness to the idea.
After selling his majority stake in the Mavericks, Cuban stated that, with his business partners’ support, he would be open to joining forces with O’Neal and James in this venture.
“I’d have to make it okay with my current partners, but, yeah, if my kids were like, ‘All right, we’re set. We don’t… want whatever.’ And it was Shaq. F**k Yeah. I would look at making a comeback. … So, you know, we get me, you, LeBron, we might have something there,” Cuban said.
Read More: Can a rejuvenated Lonzo Ball revive the Chicago Bulls?
Following recent discussions between Shaquille O’Neal and Mark Cuban, the possibility of an ownership trio involving O’Neal, Cuban, and LeBron James could be a formidable addition to the NBA’s expansion landscape. However, the league isn’t expected to introduce new franchises until the 2027-28 season.
According to an ESPN report, though NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has postponed expansion talks until after finalizing the league’s next media rights deal, there are no significant barriers to moving forward.
The top locations being considered for expansion are Seattle and Las Vegas. Seattle, historically tied to the beloved SuperSonics, and Las Vegas, which has yet to host an NBA team, both present compelling cases. Las Vegas, in particular, holds strong appeal for James, who has shown consistent interest in NBA ownership and would bring a high-profile presence to a new franchise.
With the anticipated timeline of 2027-28, James could complete his playing career and transition seamlessly into ownership. Backed by O’Neal and Cuban, James’ ambitions for an NBA team could align with the league’s expansion plans, bringing new excitement and opportunity to the NBA.
NBA 
