Lakers: LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal at Odds Over Potential Las Vegas NBA Team — 'I Want It All for Myself'

LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal - 2005 NBA All-Star Game

(Photo : Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) DENVER - (L-R) LeBron James (#23) and Shaquille O'Neal (#32) of the Eastern Conference All-Stars smile on the bench in the final moments of the East's win over the Western Conference All-Stars, the 54th All-Star Game, part of 2005 NBA All-Star Weekend at Pepsi Center on February 20, 2005 in Denver, Colorado.

Two legendary Los Angeles Lakers players have expressed their interest in potentially becoming owners of an NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas.

LeBron James has long wanted to own the proposed franchise, and he gave another compelling reason when the Lakers were in town for a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets.

"It just makes sense. Obviously, you have the Raiders here, you have the Knights here, you have the Aces here, you got F1 coming very soon. You know, All-Star Weekend has been there a few times. We have NBA Summer League, that's very popular. Sports is, it's here," the NBA's all-time leading scorer said.

It was reported in 2022 that the four-time NBA champion is reportedly the leading candidate to own the team if it were to happen.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned that the league was not actively discussing expansion then, but he acknowledged that the league would likely be expanding in the future.

Shaq wants the Las Vegas team, too

Meanwhile, Shaquille O'Neal also expressed his intent on owning the prospective NBA Las Vegas team, but with a catch.

"I would like to have my own group. I know Vegas hasn't been awarded an NBA team yet but if they ever get to a point where they are awarded a team, I would like to be a part of that. I don't want to partner up with nobody. I want it all for myself," the 7-foot-1 center told The Messenger.