LeBron James will reportedly bid for the NBA's expansion team in Las Vegas, which is expected to enter the league within the next few years. If the Lakers star were to make a successful bid for the franchise, he'd join fellow greats Michael Jordan (Wizards and Hornets), Isiah Thomas (Raptors), Dwyane Wade (Jazz) and Grant Hill (Hawks) in owning a stake in an NBA club.
It's no secret that Jordan didn't set the world on fire as the owner of the Wizards or Hornets. In his 13 years as majority owner of the Hornets, the franchise maintained an abysmal 423-600 record, made just three trips to the playoffs and never won a series.
So, will James fare any better?
Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban doesn't believe so.
In an interview with the "Club Shay Shay" podcast, Cuban explained why most iconic players fail in their endeavor of ownership or any other role that involves tough decisions.
"It's going to be a lot harder for a player," Cuban said. "We saw Michael Jordan, right? Great guy — had some success, but not as much as he wanted, It's hard because players have one mindset, and they look at other players in a certain way... It's just a completely different perspective that's hard to disconnect yourself from. And it's hard to be objective and not have your player mindset."
Cuban pointed out that most former players who enjoyed success in front-office positions were "role players" and not star players like Jordan or James.
"It's usually the role players who saw others and understood how to fit these pieces together. And so, for any superstar, it's going to be hard," Cuban added.
To Cuban's point, some of the active players-turned-executives in the NBA, such as James Jones (Suns), Tayshaun Prince (Grizzlies) and Jameer Nelson (76ers) were role players during their playing years. From a historical sense, Jerry West was one of the few expectations, as he thrived in a front-office role just as much, if not more, than a superstar player.
According to several insiders, the NBA is targeting the 2027-28 season to introduce two new expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. However, the NBA has yet to provide a definitive timeline.
