In a significant meeting held in France, basketball superstars LeBron James and Nikola Jokić, along with James' business partner Maverick Carter, explored plans for the establishment of a new international basketball league valued at $5 billion. According to reports from Front Office Sports, this proposed league aims to feature a unique touring format with six men’s and six women’s teams traveling to eight global cities, drawing inspiration from successful models like LIV Golf and Formula One.

The ambitious project intends to offer players equity stakes, a concept currently prohibited for active athletes in the NBA. Miško Ražnatović, Jokić’s agent and a prominent figure in European basketball, shared a photo of the meeting on social media, hinting at exciting developments ahead and suggesting that the summer of 2025 is an ideal time for strategic planning towards the league’s launch in the fall of 2026.

Carter has been actively pitching this league since earlier this year, seeking substantial funding from various investors, including the Singapore government and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Unlike other leagues that allow dual participation, Carter's initiative is expected to require full-time commitments from players, effectively making participation from current NBA athletes unlikely unless league rules change.

Meanwhile, the NBA is concurrently pursuing its own expansion efforts into Europe, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the establishment of a Europe-based league in collaboration with FIBA. As the NBA plans regular-season games in Berlin and London, EuroLeague officials have expressed skepticism about the potential benefits of NBA expansion, underlining the competitive landscape that this new league will have to navigate.