標籤: impacted

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James trended for a vicious dunk against the Houston Rockets on Monday. But now a potential future venture seems to be looming over them.

James’s dream of becoming an NBA owner suffered a major setback on Wednesday. James’ partnership with Fenway Sports Group is eyeing Las Vegas for a new expansion franchise. But according to Joe Warden and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, FSG is ready to expand.

Price is a big factor, with the expected cost “reportedly demanding an expansion fee of up to $8 billion per team.”

This still leaves a major dent in James’ ownership vision as the league continues expansion talks.

What’s next for Lakers’ LeBron James amid ownership blowback?

The Athletic further noted how “FSG was long expected to be James’ primary financial backer in his stated desire to own an NBA team.” But the sudden move makes it “less likely” that James will pursue franchise ownership.

Fenway Sports Group has partnered with James with the Miami Heat since 2011. The group owns the Boston Red Sox of the English Premier League and soccer club Liverpool.

James’s net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion, leading fans to believe that he has enough wealth to own a team. But if he continues to own a sports franchise he will need to join a team of investors.

The four-time NBA champion would also have to retire to run the ownership. The 41-year-old James is currently unsure about playing in 2026-27.

On Friday, Cooper Flagg was ejected from the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies. He is out due to a sprain in his leg.

According to Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban, although he is not in uniform, Flagg is active in a different way.

Head coach Jason Kidd explained how much Flagg has stepped up from the sideline, too.

“His voice. You can see him out there cheering … he’s all about his teammates, he’s trying to help this team win, even if he’s not in the uniform. He’s very consistent about that.”

Jason Kidd explained how Cooper Flagg has contributed to team morale despite being out:

“His voice. You can see him out there cheering … he’s all about his teammates, he’s trying to help this team win, even if he’s not in the uniform. He’s very consistent about that.” pic.twitter.com/KAiiDd4ppu

– Noah Weber (@noahweber00) 28 February 2026

The Mavericks lost to the Grizzlies 124-105 on Friday. They will then play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. They are at 21-38.

Flagg is averaging 20.4 points and 6.5 rebounds over the course of 49 games. Meanwhile, he is out of the last six matches.

Currently, Flagg is in the midst of a tough battle with Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year.

During the season, Flagg has earned several accolades during his rookie year. He has won multiple Rookie of the Month honors. Additionally, Flagg scored a career-high 49 points on January 29 against the Hornets. In the process, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points in a game at the age of 18.

Additionally, Flagg became the youngest player to achieve consecutive 30-point double-doubles in early February.

Additionally, he also participated in the NBA Rising Stars Game during the NBA All-Star Weekend.