Shaquille O’Neal has enjoyed an enormously successful career in business since he retired from the NBA. For his latest entrepreneurial venture, the basketball legend would love to bring an NBA expansion team to Las Vegas.

While appearing at The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation’s annual charity gala on Saturday (Oct. 7) night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena,  O’Neal stated his case of why he should be the owner of the league’s new team in his favorite city.

"I would like to have my own group," O'Neal told The Messenger. “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."

"I love it here. Las Vegas has always been a city you knew was going to grow," O'Neal continued. "You could see different casinos, different real estate projects, and different nightclubs popping up. I've always been a part of it. I used to own one of the hottest nightclubs, sold it and now I got 9-10 restaurants here. I'm doing very, very well and I want to continue to grow with Vegas."

As a resident of Las Vegas for more than two decades, O’Neal has plenty of experience when it comes to owning a professional team. In 2013, he was part-owner of the Sacramento Kings before selling his interests in the team in 2022.

O’Neal is not the only prominent figure who wants to own a team in Las Vegas. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has also shared his vision of owning an NBA team in “Sin City.”

“It just makes sense,” James said when asked if Las Vegas should be the home of a new NBA team.“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. You know, I think adding an NBA franchise here would just add to the momentum that’s going on in this town. It’s an attraction. You don’t have to worry about getting fan support or nothing like that. I think it’s only right. I think it’s only a matter of time.”

During Summer League, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league may formally discuss expansion plans in 2025 when the next media rights are renegotiated.

Las Vegas is viewed as a frontrunner for an NBA franchise along with Seattle, where the Seattle Sonics played for 41 seasons before relocating and rebranding as the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.