Kroenke's LeBron James plan as Arsenal aim to copy Denver Nuggets success

Arsenal director Josh Kroenke is president of NBA franchise Denver Nuggets and LeBron James has spoken about the pair's friendship

Josh Kroenke has been a pivotal part of Arsenal’s resurgence under Mikel Arteta but LeBron James could have helped him enjoy even greater success.

Son of owner Stan Kroenke, supporters have warmed to Josh, an Arsenal director, since his commitment to improve all aspects of the club in the aftermath of the Gunners’ controversial decision to join the European Super League in 2021. Having helped build the team that challenged for the Premier League title last season, the Gunners have spent a further £200m this summer.

Arsenal are not the only sports team that Josh Kroenke holds an interest in, though. He serves a president of both NHL franchise Colorado Avalanche and basketball team Denver Nuggets, who celebrated winning their first NBA Championship in 2023. However, the Nuggets could have been celebrating a league title much earlier if the junior Kroenke had managed to bring ‘King James’ to Denver, back in 2018, as the NBA superstar explained.

“The owner of the team is a very good friend of mine,” James said. “So uh, he discussed it a couple of times to me. And also he sent me the throwback jerseys that I think they’re wearing now, the white ones? With the mountains, I believe that’s on it.

“[He] said you’d look good in one of these. But we’ve been on vacation and things of that nature. We have a great friendship. But I didn’t give it much thought.”

It was reported that on the day the Nuggets requested a meeting with James, he signed for the LA Lakers, despite going on vacation around Italy in his yacht with Josh and another friend, two years earlier. He revealed that he first heard scouts talking