When a photo surfaced of LeBron James, business partner Maverick Carter, and Nikola Jokic’s influential agent, Miško Ražnatović, sitting together on a boat off the coast of France, the NBA rumor mill spun furiously.

Many thought this was groundwork for a new superteam or a high-profile trade. But as new reporting shows, the conversation on that yacht reached far beyond player movement or short-term deals.

Instead, what insiders now confirm is that the real discussion was about launching an all-new, global basketball league, a move that could fundamentally reshape the sport’s landscape. 

According to Front Office Sports and confirmed across multiple major outlets, Carter is seeking to raise a staggering $5 billion to get the project off the ground, with six men’s and six women’s teams playing across eight world cities.

A Rival to the NBA? The Big Ambition Behind the League

The league’s backers imagine something both radical and modern. Unlike the upstart “Unrivaled” women’s league—where players can still compete in the WNBA—this would require full commitment. NBA players joining this new league would not be able to compete in Adam Silver’s NBA, making any moves seismic for their careers and for the basketball establishment itself.

Critically, this league would be positioned as a true rival to the NBA and FIBA, with bold hopes of attracting international stars and superstar talent by offering equity ownership to its players, a direct response to NBA restrictions on player investment in teams.

Rumored investors reportedly include massive sovereign wealth and private equity funds from Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Macau.

LeBron’s Next Empire: Ownership, Expansion, and Global Change

LeBron James’ entrepreneurial ambitions are no secret. He’s long expressed interest in owning a future NBA team, specifically eyeing the much-hyped Las Vegas expansion franchise—a sweepstakes with estimates reaching $7 billion for both the team and a new arena.

However, involvement in a new international circuit would cast James’ influence over the entire future of the sport itself, giving players both financial stakes and unprecedented leverage.

What once sounded far-fetched is gaining momentum with big money, serious power brokers, and global vision. If Carter and James pull off their $5 billion gamble, the NBA may soon face its first true challenger in half a century: a league with basketball’s biggest names, running on new rules and new riches.

As the story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the yacht meeting in Saint-Tropez might someday be remembered as basketball’s pivotal turning point.