Magic Johnson, the NBA legend and businessman extraordinaire, might just be adding a new chapter to his already stacked résumé. According to reports, he’s being courted by several investment groups to lead the charge in creating a new NBA team in Las Vegas. If this happens, it could be a huge deal—not just for basketball fans, but for Las Vegas itself.
But let’s dive into the nitty-gritty: why Magic, why Las Vegas, and whether this could even happen. Spoiler alert—there are a few roadblocks along the way.
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Why Magic Johnson Is the Perfect Candidate
First off, Magic Johnson isn’t just a basketball icon; he’s a savvy business mogul with a track record of turning big dreams into reality. Back in 2012, he led a group of investors to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers for a whopping $2 billion. The team has been thriving since, and Johnson still owns a piece of it. He’s also dipped his toes into other sports, holding minority stakes in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the Washington Commanders, and the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). Basically, when it comes to sports ownership, the man knows his stuff.
Oh, and let’s not forget his wallet. With an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, Magic has the financial muscle to make this happen. Starting an NBA expansion team doesn’t come cheap—it could cost anywhere from $4 to $6 billion—but Johnson could easily bring in heavyweight investors to cover the tab.
Why Las Vegas?
Las Vegas has been on a serious hot streak when it comes to professional sports. Over the past few years, the city has scored big by welcoming the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) and the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL). An NBA team seems like the natural next step. But where would they play?
The frontrunner is a brand-new arena being planned by Oak View Group (OVG), a Denver-based firm with some serious arena-building cred. OVG has already built the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and the UBS Arena in Long Island. They’re reportedly eyeing the parking lot of the Rio Hotel & Casino as the future home for an NBA-ready facility.
T-Mobile Arena, home of the Golden Knights, would’ve been an easy choice, but the overlap in NHL and NBA seasons rules it out. Another contender, LVXP, has its own plans for an 18,000-seat arena on the site of the old Wet n’ Wild waterpark. But here’s the thing: LVXP doesn’t exactly have the track record of OVG. Their leadership team includes a mix of mining execs and dancers—impressive in their own fields, sure, but not exactly who you’d trust to pull off a billion-dollar arena project.
Is Magic Fully Committed to Las Vegas?
While Vegas might seem like the obvious choice for Johnson (it’s just a short flight from his Los Angeles home), it’s not the only city in play. Reports suggest that Kansas City is also under consideration. The city hasn’t had an NBA team since 1985, when the Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento, so you can bet locals would welcome a new franchise with open arms.
Plus, Magic’s personal feelings might complicate things. He’s always been vocal about his loyalty to the Los Angeles Lakers, a team he helped make legendary during his playing days. In fact, back in September 2023, he said the only team outside of the Lakers he’d even consider owning would be the New York Knicks. That’s a pretty big hint that his heart might not fully be in creating a brand-new team from scratch.
The Competition: Could LeBron Beat Magic to It?
Magic Johnson isn’t the only one eyeing a potential Las Vegas NBA team. Back in October 2022, LeBron James made it clear he’s interested in leading the charge. After a preseason game in Vegas, LeBron said, “I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing. It’s the best fan base in the world.”
With LeBron now the NBA’s first billionaire active player, he’s got the resources and influence to make a serious play for ownership. If both LeBron and Magic are interested, things could get interesting fast.
What’s Next?
Right now, everything is still up in the air. We don’t know which investment groups are involved, whether Magic will pick Las Vegas over Kansas City, or if he’ll even decide to go through with it at all. What we do know is this: the race to bring the NBA to Las Vegas is heating up, and Magic Johnson is right in the middle of it.
Whether you’re a basketball fan, a Las Vegas local, or just someone who loves seeing big moves in sports, this is definitely something to keep an eye on. And hey, even if it’s not Magic who makes it happen, Las Vegas seems destined to score an NBA team sooner or later.
