Boxing great Floyd Mayweather said he’s not sure he’s still interested in being part of an ownership group of a Las Vegas NBA expansion team.
After stating on multiple occasions, as recently as 2022, that he wanted ownership of an NBA team in Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada resident said that is no longer the case.
“In the past, I talked about owning an NBA team, but it looks like it’s a lot of stress in the NBA being an owner,” Mayweather said Saturday during an autograph signing at the MCM retail store at the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace. “You see an owner get involved with the NBA, and he’s looking happy. Then as years progress, he’s looking older. So, I don’t know.”
When asked about what he thought of the reported expansion fee for a potential Las Vegas team being in the range of $7 billion and $10 billion, Mayweather said the buy-in would be a worthy investment.
“The way you look at that number, as far as in the NBA, the NFL or any sport, only thing numbers can do is go up,” Mayweather said.
In 2017, Mayweather posted a picture on social media with NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson saying they just met and Mayweather said at the time he was interested in owning an NBA team.
Now, Johnson has publicly stated that he and his ownership group, the MAGI, are interested in bidding on an NBA expansion team. NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced last week that the league was formerly exploring Las Vegas and Seattle for expansion teams.
“Magic Johnson is a true legend. He’s a hell of a businessman,” Mayweather said.
Las Vegas pro sports boom
During Mayweather’s prime between the early 2000s and the late 2010s, he was the main event in Las Vegas. He would routinely pack arenas, mainly the MGM Grand Garden Arena and then T-Mobile Arena during his last megafight against UFC fighter Conor McGregor on Aug. 26, 2017.
That year was monumental for Las Vegas and pro sports, as in October 2017 the Vegas Golden Knights began their inaugural NHL season at T-Mobile Arena.
The pro sports landscape has flourished since then, adding the WNBA’s Aces in 2018 and the NFL’s Raiders in 2020. The MLB’s Athletics are scheduled for a 2028 arrival and the potential for an NBA team as early as the 2028-29 season.
Mayweather is all for the recent boom in the city that he’s called home for three decades.
“I’m happy for the whole city of Las Vegas,” he said. “I’m going to stand behind the city of Las Vegas and push Las Vegas to continue to be great.”
Mayweather has been seen sitting courtside at Michelob Ultra Arena for Aces games since the team’s arrival.
The Aces (are) making so much noise in the WNBA,” he said. “We’ve been supporting the Aces since the beginning, and we will continue to support all professional teams in Las Vegas.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.