LeBron James and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter have embarked on an ambitious venture to launch an international basketball league with a projected valuation of $5 billion. The league aims to operate on a global scale, presenting a fresh alternative to established basketball structures.

Instead of traditional city-based franchises, this league plans to feature six men’s and six women’s teams that will compete across multiple international cities on a touring schedule. This format is designed to bring elite basketball directly to fans in various countries, expanding the sport’s reach and engagement far beyond current limits.

Financial backing for this league involves a consortium of significant investors, including sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms from across the globe. The model uniquely proposes player equity participation, which would allow athletes to hold ownership stakes in their teams—marking a distinct departure from the NBA’s conventional franchise system.

This approach has the potential to give players a more substantial financial and governance role in the league’s success, addressing ongoing calls within professional basketball for greater player empowerment.

How the League Would Operate

The league’s structure is envisioned to prioritize global exposure and competitive balance through its touring concept. Rather than remaining tied to a single home city, teams would travel regularly to different countries, delivering high-level basketball events to diverse markets.

This touring schedule is inspired by models seen in other sports such as Formula One and LIV Golf, which have successfully maximized international fan engagement by staging events worldwide over a season.

Significantly, players participating in this league would commit fully to the competition, meaning current NBA athletes would need to opt out of the NBA to join. This exclusivity is intended to maintain the league’s competitive integrity and brand appeal. The league is targeting a launch in the fall of 2026, with preparations ongoing to establish a global footprint from the outset.

NBA’s Response and Market Dynamics

The NBA is watching these developments keenly as it simultaneously pursues its own strategy to expand basketball’s presence in Europe, including regular-season games planned for London and Berlin starting in 2026.

However, the NBA’s approach favors the establishment of permanent European teams within its existing ecosystem, which contrasts with the proposed league’s itinerant, touring format. This divergence sets up a potential rivalry between the two, intensifying competition for global audiences and talent.

LeBron James’ involvement elevates this effort beyond a mere business venture. His stature in the sport and cultural influence position him as a transformative figure shaping basketball’s future. By pioneering a league with groundbreaking operational and financial models, LeBron and Carter are looking to redefine professional basketball as a truly global and player-centered enterprise.