Maverick Carter, who has long partnered with LeBron James in business ventures, has been appointed as a consultant for a group of investors aiming to secure up to $5 billion for a global basketball league, according to a source who spoke with YSL News Sports on the condition of anonymity.

Bloomberg was the first to report on this development.

The proposed league will feature six men’s teams and six women’s teams, hosting games in select cities around the globe, as stated by Bloomberg.

It’s important to note that LeBron James and his representative, Rich Paul, are not directly linked to this initiative, as another source familiar with the matter mentioned to YSL News Sports under the same condition of anonymity. However, James has indicated his desire to join an NBA ownership group after his playing days are over.

In other news, the NBA will head to Paris next week for two games between the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers on January 23 and January 25, which will mark Victor Wembanyama’s first NBA games in his home nation.

During this trip, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, and other high-ranking officials plan to engage in conversations with European stakeholders, including FIBA, regarding the potential launch of a new league in Europe that would involve the NBA.

Silver shared with reporters last month during the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas, “While we were in Paris for the Olympics, we met with various interested parties there. We’ll return to Paris in January for the games with the Spurs and the Pacers, and we’ll take that opportunity to connect with more interested groups.”

He added, “This is an area we are continuously evaluating. We are not ready to make any public announcements yet, nor have we made any decisions internally. However, I firmly believe there remains a significant opportunity to elevate basketball in Europe. I started with the NBA shortly before the Dream Team in 1992, and people were talking about the potential then. However, despite that excitement, we have yet to see a basketball league or a Champions-type league emerge in Europe that has garnered strong fan engagement.”

The NBA sees untapped financial potential in this endeavor.

During a visit to Paris in August, Tatum mentioned to YSL News Sports, “What is the best product we can introduce to the market that will engage fans effectively and help basketball grow?”

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt