Image Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network

LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Nikola Jokic’s European Agent Reportedly Working Together to Build New Global Basketball League

A new professional basketball league is on the cards?

Image Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network

Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James is reportedly working with his business partner, Maverick Carter, and Nikola Jokic’s European agent Miško Ražnatović to build a new global basketball league. The rumors resurfaced recently when a picture of their trio from their ‘yacht meeting’ went viral on social media. Earlier in January, Carter reportedly worked with a group of investors to raise $5 billion to build an international basketball league, which would compete with the NBA and the WNBA.

While nothing could be confirmed back then, the recent picture of their meeting posted by Maverick Carter went viral. He captioned the picture, “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!” While there was a lot of speculation about what was brewing, Front Office Sports reported that the group met to discuss a new international basketball league backed by Carter.

REPORT: LeBron James and Maverick Carter are working on building a new global basketball league.

The league would include:
• 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams
• Touring format (LIV Golf/F1 style)
• Player equity model

(h/t FOS) pic.twitter.com/i3vRIwDvpZ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 31, 2025

How Would the New International Basketball League Look Like?

According to the Financial Times, the list of investors includes the Singaporean government, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, as well as a Macau casino operator. Per reports, the league would consist of six men’s teams and six women’s teams, which will tour across eight cities in the world. One of the most notable highlights of the league would be that the players will reportedly receive equity in the new league.

However, as they will sign the league, they would not be able to compete in the NBA. Talking about the kind of players who would be able to sign up for the league, it remains to be figured out which kind of players will be a part of the league. Not only this, but even LeBron James’ exact role, as a player or investor, is yet to be figured out.

LeBron James

Nikola Jokic

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.