5 billion, a yacht in Saint-Tropez and a viral photo: LeBron sets the internet ablaze and shakes up the NBA mid-summer

A few days ago, a photo posted on Instagram set social media on fire and fueled all kinds of speculation. Misko Raznatovic, one of Europe’s most powerful agents and discoverer of Nikola Jokic, posed alongside LeBron James and his manager Maverick Carter on a yacht off Saint-Tropez. The caption accompanying the photo was worthy of a Hollywood trailer: « Summer 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for fall 2026. »

Naturally, the wildest theories circulated. Some saw it as an announcement of Jokic’s surprise arrival at the Los Angeles Lakers, others imagined LeBron James ending his career with the Denver Nuggets. But the reality is quite different and much more ambitious.

REPORT: LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Nikola Jokic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic, met in Saint-Tropez last week to discuss a new international basketball league being formed.

• 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams
• Touring format (like LIV Golf/F1)
• Full-time responsibility — NBA pic.twitter.com/vydRtosz1k

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) July 31, 2025

An international league inspired by Formula 1

According to Front-Office Sports, this meeting had nothing to do with the future destinations of the two NBA superstars.

It was actually discussions about an ambitious project: an international basketball league that Maverick Carter wants to launch.

Revealed in January by Bloomberg, the project aims to raise $5 billion to create a basketball league inspired by Formula 1. Twelve teams, 6 men’s and 6 women’s, would compete in eight cities worldwide, with two-week stops. Singapore would be among the targeted cities.

In this context, Maverick Carter reached out to Misko Raznatovic. With his European network through BeoBasket and KK Mega Basket, the Serbian agent would play a key role in recruiting talent for this league closed to other competitions.

Now remains to finalize the funding for this revolutionary project and convince global basketball stars to join this venture, while the NBA is working on creating its own European league. Note that in January, LeBron James was not yet involved in the project. Things may have evolved since this summer meeting in Saint-Tropez.