Red Sox Breaking News: LeBron James joins Fenway Sports Group

LeBron James is now part-owner of the Boston Red Sox

Red Sox Nation got a bit of shocking news today as just a short while ago it was announced that multi-time NBA champion LeBron James would be buying into the Fenway Sports Group. The news was first reported by The Boston Globe’s Michael Silverman and the deal is still contingent on approval from MLB. Adding King James to the ownership group at Fenway wasn’t the only news offered up today as FSG also has a deal with RedBird Capital Partners for a $750 million investment.

As I said above, this comes as a bit of a shock to those that follow the Red Sox for several reasons. Firstly, LeBron has been a thorn in the side of the Boston Celtics since arriving in the league and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. Then there’s the fact that he’s always supporting teams that seem to have a run-in with the Red Sox. We’ve seen the King back the Indians, Dodgers, and well, it’s no secret that he loves the Yankees. So for him to buy into FSG does come as a bit of a surprise.

If the deal is approved by MLB, LeBron and his partner Maverick Carter would become the first and only black partners within FSG. To some this may not seem like a big deal in the year 2021, but it definitely is for that very reason. Being an investor would also give James access to the other assets under the Red Sox’s parent company which also included the likes of NESN, Fenway Roush Racing, and his beloved Liverpool. LeBron had already invested in the football club but becoming a full-fledged member of the ownership group opens many more doors for the star.

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It’s being reported that John Henry will still remain as principal owner and James’ stake in FSG is yet to be revealed, but I think this definitely spices things up. Henry has been the number one target for Red Sox Nation despite delivering four world championships since buying the team in 2002. In fact, Henry has yet to even speak to the media this season and hasn’t been made available in over a year.

Could having James in the fold now give the Red Sox boss a new face of the organization? That wouldn’t shock me at this point, especially with his need for good PR. It’s hard to tell if LeBron will be more of a behind-the-scenes owner or if he’ll want to get his hands dirty and bring this club further into the 21st century. But having him aboard could allow Henry to get out of the public light if James wants to take on that added responsibility.

The NBA is the absolute best in the game when it comes to marketing their players and stars, something that MLB has failed to be a success at. Having someone the caliber of James in FSG could open more doors for Boston players as far as marketing campaigns and sponsorships. Even if he isn’t negotiating things on behalf of the players he can give them plenty of insight into the decisions he’s made over his career to get to where he’s at as far as being the face of a league.

It’ll take some time to truly understand where if at all LeBron fits into the organization. As I mentioned above he very well may just be behind the scenes and seen in the Owner’s Box at Fenway Park. Silverman also reported that an MLB approval on today’s deals with FSG could take weeks. I’m very interested in seeing just what if anything LeBron will do as a member of Fenway Sports Group and just how he can help this Red Sox team win.