Maverick Carter, LeBron James’ longtime business partner, is no longer involved with “Project B,” an international basketball venture aiming to launch next fall, multiple sources told Front Office Sports.
Carter, who initially consulted on the project, stepped away months ago. James was never part of the effort.
Project B is led by Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, with investors including Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, Steve Young, and former WNBA stars Candace Parker and Alana Beard, who also serves as co-founder.
The league intends to run men’s and women’s five-on-five competitions in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, with seasons overlapping the NBA calendar but not the WNBA’s.
“We’re paying multiples higher than is available right now in the world of women’s sports,” Burnett said, promising record salaries and equity packages.
Beard added: “This is not a gimmick. We’re playing five-on-five, we’re playing elite basketball. We want the best of the best playing in our league.”
The group reportedly sought $5 billion in funding, though the amount raised remains undisclosed. NBA commissioner Adam Silver noted that competition “keeps everyone on their toes.”
New International Basketball League To Launch In 2026; Maverick Carter No Longer Advising https://t.co/Y4v4m553NL
— RealGM (@RealGM) October 8, 2025
