National Basketball Association

LeBron James knows what he wants to do when he retires

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:12 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

LeBron James isn't shy about his basketball goals. He's chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan.

Apparently, that pursuit of the GOAT includes emulating Jordan off the court. In an extensive podcast interview with Uninterrupted's "Open Run," LeBron revealed that he plans to own an NBA team once he's done playing.

As transcribed by ESPN.com:

Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats after the 2005-06 season; in March 2010, he became the NBA's first African-American majority owner (and the only former NBA player to own a franchise).

The question is whether LeBron will have enough wealth to afford an NBA franchise, particularly with the way team valuations have exploded over the past few years; the average value of the league's 30 teams increased by 13 percent just from 2015 to 2016, according to Forbes.com.

On the other hand, LeBron's newest deal with the Cavs is reportedly worth more than Jordan made his entire career. And while LeBron's shoe empire pales in comparison to Jordan Brand, James' lifetime deal with Nike could be worth over $1 billion — which doesn't include his other endorsements and the money he made from Nike prior to his new contract.

One assumes LeBron would be interested in buying the Cavs, valued at approximately $1.1 billion, if Dan Gilbert is up for selling the team. If it's not Cleveland, we'd expect LeBron to look for a team in a warm-weather. The Miami Heat are currently valued at $1.3 billion, but if James is looking for real value for his franchise, he might want to look at the Phoenix Suns ($1 billion) or New Orleans Pelicans (the least-valuable team in the league at $650 million).

In that same podcast, LeBron also seemed to hint at his feelings regarding superteams. During a larger discussion about the friendly relationships between NBA players these days, James made a tangential point about hiring the best people and surrounding yourself with those who will help you succeed:

Even if LeBron wasn't speaking directly to the Warriors, the message is loud and clear: Bring your best squad, because the King is ready for the next challenge.