LeBron James to commissioner: I want team in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — After wowing the crowd at T-Mobile Arena, scoring 23 points in 17 minutes in the Los Angeles Lakers' 119-115 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns, LeBron James saved his biggest play for the postgame news conference.

When asked a question about the NBA hosting the exhibition game in Las Vegas, James used the occasion to make a personal plea to commissioner Adam Silver, angling to be first in line to own the team if the league ever expands to Sin City.

«I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing. I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now, I believe,» James said, alluding to the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks' preseason trip that Silver is attending. «But he probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes through from NBA players.

»So, I want the team here, Adam. Thank you."

Wednesday was not the first time James has expressed interest in owning a team in Las Vegas, but this certainly was his most direct declaration.

In June, on an episode of his YouTube show «The Shop: Uninterrupted,» James first revealed his goal.

«I want a team in Vegas,» said James, who is already a part-owner of Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox. «I want the team in Vegas.»

Silver was asked during his annual NBA Finals news conference about the league expanding beyond its current 30 teams and said there are no immediate plans to do so.

«We are not discussing that at this time,» Silver said. «As I said before, at some point, this league invariably will expand, but it's not at this moment that we are discussing it.»

However, when asked specifically about Seattle and Las Vegas as potential expansion locations, Silver endorsed both locations.

«Those are wonderful markets,» Silver said. «We were in