24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, and former NFL MVP Steve Young have reportedly joined the investor group backing LeBron James’s planned international basketball league, which is set to rival the NBA. The announcement comes as James’ longtime business partner, sports marketing mogul Maverick Carter, reportedly steps away from the project.
What Do We Know About LeBron James’ Future Basketball Project Involving Novak Djokovic and Sloane Stephens?
Reports of James and Carter planning a new basketball league by 2026 recently sent shockwaves through the sporting world. The initiative, quietly called “Project B,” has been in the works for nearly two years and is set to launch next fall with both men’s and women’s 5-on-5 leagues.
Of note, Carter had served as an advisor to the group and was seen attending multiple meetings with his former partner, James and Miško Ražnatović, agent of former NBA champion Nikola Jokić, reportedly for this project. However, a recent report by Front Office Sports revealed that Carter is no longer involved with the organization, according to one of his spokespersons.
The project, however, continues to move forward with major new investors, including former WNBA stars Alana Beard and Candace Parker, tennis icons Djokovic and Stephens, and former NFL quarterback Young. Skype cofounder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett lead the investor group.
The project marks a bold move by James, a player intimately familiar with the sport’s intricacies. The Los Angeles Lakers star is a four-time NBA champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
It is worth noting that other details about the league, including its name, remain under wraps. The plan is to start next fall, with seasons extending through April, putting them in direct competition with the NBA but not the summer-based WNBA.
How Is Djokovic Progressing at the 2025 Shanghai Masters?
Djokovic had been off the tour since the 2025 US Open, returning for the Asian swing at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. Yet the Serb appeared a bit rusty but progressed well overall in the event he had previously won four times.
He entered as a fourth seed and received a direct entry into the second round, where he convincingly defeated fellow veteran Marin Čilić 7-6(2), 6-4. He then ousted Yannick Hanfmann 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 before eliminating Spain’s Jaume Munar, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will meet Zizou Bergs in the quarterfinals on Thursday, marking their first-ever tour clash. The winner will advance to face either Holger Rune or qualifier Valentin Vacherot in the semifinals.
