LeBron James loves to say that his illustrious NBA career, his rising from childhood poverty in Akron to the best, most famous basketball player of his time, goes against all odds.



In the past five seasons alone, he’s cemented his legacy by returning to Cleveland and capturing a title for the Cavaliers. He’s riding an NBA Finals streak unmatched since the ’60s. He’s stunned us with buzzer beaters, torn through the record books and captivated millions in free agency. Now, he’s a Laker, riding out his golden years with one of professional sports’ most storied franchises, and on Sunday will make his record 15th consecutive All-Star start.



But what almost no one knows is that in that same time frame, he’s secretly positioned himself to pull off an even longer shot: owning an NBA team.



LeBron, now 34, hasn’t been shy about his desire to be an owner. But when he, or just about any athlete who’s still playing,...