Investors Plan $5 Billion Rival Basketball League Offering Players Equity

A group of prominent investors is aiming to launch a new international basketball league with a unique proposition: offering players equity stakes. Advised by Maverick Carter, LeBron James’ business partner, the group plans to raise $5 billion to fund the league, which could challenge the NBA’s dominance.

The Vision
The new league, still unnamed, will feature 12 teams—six men’s and six women’s—that will compete in eight cities around the world. Following a global format similar to Formula 1, the teams will play in each city for two weeks. Singapore has been confirmed as one of the host cities, though the remaining seven locations are yet to be announced.

Players will be offered equity stakes, a move designed to attract top talent by creating long-term financial opportunities. This mirrors the strategy used by LIV Golf, which lured players from the PGA Tour with lucrative deals.

Key Players Involved
The investor group includes high-profile names:
- Jason Stein and Daniel Haimovic from SC Holdings.
- Geoff Prentice, co-founder of Skype.
- Grady Burnett, former Facebook executive.

The team is working with UBS and Evercore to secure funding from a mix of sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and wealthy individuals.

Notably, LeBron James is not directly involved in the project, according to a representative for the NBA star.

NBA and Global Expansion
The NBA has yet to comment on the new league. While this rival league seeks to carve out a global niche, the NBA has also been expanding internationally, with games in China, the UAE, Mexico City, and Paris and a record 125 international players in its 2024 season.

The emergence of this league could intensify competition for talent and viewership, potentially reshaping the landscape of professional basketball.