NBA superstar LeBron James says that he doesn't just plan to play in the NBA until his legs get tired -- he plans to take over a team after he's done. Shortly before a game this week against the Chicago Bulls, James admitted that he likes the idea of following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and taking ownership of an NBA franchise. Jordan recently purchased an interest in the Charlotte Bobcats for $275 million, being sold the stake by Bob Johnson, who has seen his cash flow weakened by the team's poor financial performance.

"I would love to be in that position," James told the Associated Press. "It's a great position to be able to own a team and be able to put pieces together and make decisions."

James is only 25-years-old now, so he has plenty of time to make his mark as an owner. Thus far, he has done a reasonably good job of managing his money and keeping himself in a good financial position. He has also become one of the premier faces of the league, as the reigning MVP and favorite to win the MVP award again this year.

James, who has made savvy business decisions since joining the league, must not forget the challenges of ownership. Most NBA franchises cost $300 - $400 million dollars, requiring a huge initial investment by the potential owner. Teams rarely come on the market for sale, so there can be an intense bidding war for the teams that do become available. What's more difficult is that a profit is not guaranteed. Simply winning games can be important and costly, but how the team is marketed can play a role in its success. The best franchises are those that can sell tickets, get lucrative television deals, and also sell jerseys and other merchandise. It truly is a business as much as it is a sport. In fact, some of the most profitable teams are not the ones who win championships. They are the ones who manage their business models the best.

"It's definitely a tough job," James also told Associated Press reporters. "But I love the game and I know talent. If an opportunity presents itself later on in my life, then I will try."

LeBron may be a talented player, but it is yet to be determined if he has the ability to judge talent. Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest NBA player in history, but some have questioned his ability to judge talent as a coach, owner and front office executive. A different set of skills are required to run a team than to play for one, so James will soon find out if he has what it takes. At the very least, the fact that he chose not to go to college may mean that he needs to get some MBAs around him to help manage the business side of the operation. But then again, LeBron James has always been a winner, and his multi-million dollar empire is not going anywhere soon.

Lawrence Watkins is the CEO of the Great Gospel Speakers Bureau. For more information, please visit LawrenceWatkins.com.