LeBron's been bitten by Beckham's soccer bug

Miami Heat forward LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, said on Wednesday he hopes to be involved with David Beckham's plan to bring a Major League Soccer team to Miami.

Former England soccer captain Beckham, who has become a close friend of James in recent years and often attends Heat games in Miami, announced earlier in the day he had exercised his option to become the owner of an MLS franchise in that city.

"Hopefully I can be part of it," James said when asked if he was involved in Beckham's bid to build a world-class soccer team, as yet unnamed, in Florida.

"Right now, there are some things that need to be worked out but I think it is exciting for the city of Miami."

James, who spoke shortly before taking to the court in Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center, already has a minority ownership stake with English Premier League team Liverpool.

The 10-time NBA All-Star and two-time league champion has developed a good knowledge of soccer over the past two years and met several of the Liverpool players when he toured the club in 2012.

"I have grown a great interest in watching the game and learning about the guys," James, 29, said in November about his burgeoning appreciation for soccer.

"It is a pretty intense sport and my kids love it as well.

"I have grown to the point where I know exactly what is going on when I am watching the game.

"David (Beckham) has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and Miami is a great town for soccer."

Former midfielder Beckham, whose commitment to MLS dates back to 2007 when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy, retired as a player last May and held a $25 million option in his MLS contract to start a new franchise.

That option was exercised shortly before it expired on Dec 31, and on Tuesday Beckham signed a shareholder agreement with his two partners, the British TV producer and creator of American Idol, Simon Fuller, and Bolivian-born billionaire Marcelo Claure, founder of Miami-based Brightstar Corp.

A final deal to grant the franchise to Beckham's investment group could still be several months away.

Sources close to the negotiations said a stadium location and financial arrangements requiring approval from the MLS board still must be finalized before his team can become the 22nd club in the top US professional soccer league.