With LeBron James eyeing business ventures in Dallas, the Mavericks could use Jerry Jones’ legendary salesmanship and oil ties to close a high-stakes deal for the superstar.
FRISCO - I've often said to the "haters'' of Jerry Jones that if I could just get you in a room with the Dallas Cowboys owner, just for five minutes, his outrageously persuasive charm would win you over.
So, Dallas Mavs, let's get Jerry in a room with LeBron James.
LeBron, via his agent Rich Paul, has made his NBA free agency intentions clear.
It's as much about business as it is about basketball.
How else to interpret Paul's whiteboard analysis of LeBron's thoughts on the Dallas Mavs as an NBA destination when he lists the reasons as being “Oil,” “Golf,” “Macau” and “Africa''?
James, 41, recently told the Lakers he’s leaving Los Angeles to pursue success elsewhere in what will be the 24th year of his brilliant career. Repped by Paul, it’s understood that they’ll be talking to the Warriors, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Heat, Spurs and 76ers ...
And Dallas, I suppose, as the Mavs were one of 10 teams included on Paul's list as detailed on his podcast as he rattled off the leading candidates for the services of the four-time MVP and the four-time NBA champion.
That’s the good news. The relatively bad news is Paul’s explanation for why LeBron might consider the Mavs. He didn't mention young sensation Cooper Flagg or his own long-time James pal Kyrie Irving.
“In Dallas, they have oil,” said Paul. “They have golf. They have Macau and the Sands Corporation. And then with Masai, you have the whole continent of Africa. A lot comes with Dallas and Masai.”
And indeed, scribbled on that board were the words “Dallas + Masai,’‘ followed by the words “Oil,” “Golf,” “Macau” and “Africa.”
Meaning what? Meaning “money.''
Enter Jerry Jones.
“Macau’‘ is a gambling region in China, and Mavs team governor Patrick Dumont is the CEO of Sands Corporation, which controls a casino and resort there.
And new team president Masai Ujiri has roots in Africa, another business-purpose connection.
"Golf''? Sure. Dallas has golf.
Oh, and “oil’‘? LeBron wants to be in the oil business? You know who has oil?
Cowboys owner Jones.
If I'm Dumont and Ujiri and the Mavs, I'm reading the recruitment room and I'm offering LeBron very specifically what he's asking for.
And in that literal room? I'm inviting Jerry to pull up a chair.
Once upon a time, James proclaimed himself to be a passionate Cowboys fan. And he and Jones have often spoken with amusing pride at how in 20..., when the NBA was on strike, Jerry offered LeBron a "contract'' to play football, the other sport the 6-8 superstar excelled at in high school.
LeBron's fandom of the Cowboys went south in 2017 when he criticized Jones' handling of the National Anthem controversy - to follow the lead of Colin Kaepernick's protest against police brutality and to kneel before kickoff.
"Nah, man, I had to sit put on the Cowboys, man. It's just a lot of things that were going on when guys were kneeling," James said then. "The organization was like 'if you do that around here, you won't ever play for this franchise again.' I just didn't think that was appropriate."
And his fandom spiraled further downward in 2022 when James expressed disappointment in a photo that showed a teenage Jones as being present at an infamous 1957 desegregation protest at North Little Rock High School.
Obviously, some wounds would have to be healed.
And in my 40-plus years of covering pro sports, you know who is the best-ever healer of wounds, massager of egos and closer of deals?
Jerry Jones.
Jones' involvement here can go beyond "persuasive charm.'' Over the years, when the Lakers successfully recruit a superstar, he ends up in Hollywood. He gets a "side hustle'' as a "producer'' (or even as a movie star) and makes a fortune.
He does so without the Lakers paying for it, so no salary-cap violation there.
Jones and the Cowboys can do the same thing in Dallas. But not with a TV/film connection; it'd be with a Jones business connection. "Oil.'' Or whatever else can be provided in a Texas-style "side hustle.''
Maybe Mavs management has too much pride and ego to call the Jerry cavalry here, and that'd be too bad.
They should pull out all the stops. Throw LeBron a damn parade. Get him hanging out with Mavs icon Dirk Nowitzki, with Mavs super-fan Patrick Mahomes, with Roger Staubach and Michael Irvin and Dak Prescott and Troy Aikman.
And the closer, Jerry Jones.
Would Jerry participate? It's worth noting that in the wake of the Little Rock photo controversy, Jones told 105.3 The Fan, "You have to hear me say how much I think of LeBron. I don’t know of anybody that I respect more. I don’t know of anybody that has taken every opportunity he’s had and maximized it.
"(He's) a great ambassador for sport ...''
And in that regard? Jones and James are cut from the same cloth.
In the end, I bet LeBron will include actual basketball and the pursuit of a championship as the No. 1 reason for his landing spot. A Mavs team in 2026-27 featuring LeBron, Flagg and Kyrie? That sounds compelling, but it might not be title-worthy.
But just in case?
Take your best shot, Mavs, so your proposed vision isn't just Flagg and Kyrie teaming up with LeBron.
It's Flagg and Kyrie and Jerry Jones teaming up with LeBron.
