A recent meeting in France involving LeBron James, his associate Maverick Carter, and Nikola Jokić’s representative Miško Ražnatović reportedly centered on plans for a new $5 billion international basketball league, according to a *Front Office Sports* report citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The proposed league, led by Carter, would include six men’s and six women’s teams traveling to eight global cities in a touring format. Modeled after other international sports events, the league intends to offer players ownership shares, which NBA regulations currently restrict for active players.
Ražnatović, a prominent figure in European basketball, shared a photo of the gathering on Instagram. The post, tagged in Saint-Tropez, hinted: "The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026." While the image sparked rumors of a potential collaboration between James and Jokić, sources confirmed the discussion was unrelated to the NBA.
Carter began presenting plans for the league earlier this year, with reports suggesting he aims to secure $5 billion in funding. Supporters include the Singapore government, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, SC Holdings, UBS, and private investors such as Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett.
Unlike other leagues that permit dual participation, Carter’s venture is expected to demand full-time involvement, likely preventing NBA players from joining unless league policies are revised.
Meanwhile, the NBA is exploring its own expansion into Europe. Commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss plans for a European NBA league in collaboration with FIBA. As part of this initiative, the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies will play regular-season games in Berlin and London in January 2026.
EuroLeague officials have voiced opposition to the NBA’s expansion efforts. "We told them, as we’ve said publicly, we don’t think a new league would benefit the market," EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejūnas stated in a recent interview.
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