Carmelo Anthony may soon be finally teaming up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the NBA, but not as a player. Baltimore native infamously missed out on joining James and Wade when they converged in Miami during the 2010 free agency. But with Wade and Melo now retired and LeBron in his final few years, the three could be together at last as well, NBA team owners.
During the latest episode of the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, The Kid Mero asked Melo about the prospect of teaming up with his banana boat brothers to own an NBA franchise, and the 10-time All-Star replied by saying he loved the idea.
"That's how you create what they're talking about generational," said Anthony. "That's generational, that's legacy if we can do that. I don't know how cuz I'm open. I don't know how open they are. Everybody got their own situation. I'm out there trying to raise money now, trying to raise money with my sports funds."
D-Wade is currently part owner of the Jazz
Among the three, Wade is the only one who has an ownership stake in an NBA team. The Miami Heat legend acquired an undisclosed share of the Utah Jazz in 2021 and has been very visible in the team's games and activities. In the three years that Heat legend has been part owner, the Jazz have seen their value go from $1.75B to $3.46B .
Also retired like Wade, Anthony was appointed a global ambassador for the NBL's Next Stars program. Australia's top professional basketball league also announced that its partnership with Melo includes an option to be a part owner of a future expansion team. Anthony hopes that his foray into the NBL and other business trips will be a step in the direction of becoming a team owner in the NBA.
"I did travel the world, Japan, this place and that place to go fundraising. And it's hard to raise money. Most people say you got the money. It's hard to raise money. And getting people to understand what sports is. There's so much money spent into sports and people don't really don't understand it. People don't really understand sports," he added.
Bron could retire in two years to pursue a franchise
Meanwhile, 39-year-old LeBron James is still playing in the NBA. He is even coming off an MVP-winning performance at the 2024 Olympics, where Team USA captured gold. But as great as LeBron looks right now, ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes that King James will play two more years before going after the NBA's Las Vegas franchise .
"So the biggest thing, other than health that is going to determine the end of LeBron's career is when the owners of the league set forth a timeline about when they are going to establish that expansion team in Las Vegas…He wants to join up with partners to become the face of the franchise in Las Vegas," said Windy.
There is no definite timetable for when the NBA will expand, but the rumors say it will be two years from now. By then, LeBron will probably be retired, and Wade will have gained more than enough experience running an NBA team. Hopefully, Melo won't miss out on teaming up with his banana boat brothers this time.
Related: Carmelo Anthony confirms that he was very close to finishing his career with the Knicks: "You could be on the team tomorrow, but this is the spot"
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