BOSTON — With the purchase price of the Boston Celtics expected to reach more than $6 billion, it would take someone with some serious deep pockets to buy the winningest team in NBA history. How about the second-richest man in the world, Jeff Bezos?
According to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, the owner of Amazon, who is worth more than $195 billion, is interested in buying the Celtics. “There are real rumors out there that Jeff Bezos is going to buy the Celtics,” Simmons said on his Monday morning podcast.
“I think that’s true. I think he’ll be one of the suitors,” Simmons said.
Simmons added that the NBA would love to see someone like Bezos pay the Celtics $6 million. The Celtics currently share TD Garden with the Boston Bruins, but Bezos would likely change that and build their own arena in Boston.
“The NBA is asking $6 billion for the Celtics. They don’t own the arena. It’s a crazy amount of money, but it’s probably going to happen,” Simmons said. “The reason they’re asking $6 billion is because they want expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. Mexico City has been floated as a third team. But they’re asking $6 billion each for two franchises for expansion, which would be a $400 million check to all 30 NBA owners. So they’re trying to determine the price of a Celtics team.”
On July 1, just days after the Celtics marched through the streets of Boston winning the franchise’s 18th NBA title, the basketball world was shocked when majority owner Wyck Grousbeck announced that his ownership group was selling his shares in the team. Grousbeck and Boston Basketball Partners LLC have owned the Celtics since purchasing the franchise in 2002 for $360 million.
Grousbeck’s group is putting 51 percent of the team up for sale with immediate effect, which is expected to close within the next few months, with the full sale expected to be completed in 2028. Grousbeck wants to remain as team president until the sale is complete.
Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca announced his intention to try to buy the team shortly after Grusbeck’s announcement, and John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group could also get involved.
But Simmons also said Grousbeck’s father, H. Irving Grousbeck, was trying to make as much money as possible from the sale of the Celtics.
“He just wants the highest price. He’s not like, ‘Let’s undercut the locals.’ [a deal]”He doesn’t care,” Simmons said. “He just wants the highest price possible.”
Bezos has previously expressed interest in buying sports teams and was reported to have expressed interest in purchasing the Washington Commanders last year, but ultimately lost out to a group led by Josh Harris, who bought the Commanders for $6.05 billion.
Bezos certainly has the cash to not only buy the Celtics but also pay the huge luxury tax bill that will soon be imposed on the organization, and if he’s willing to be one of the owners to sign the checks and let Brad Stevens and his basketball operations team do the cooking, Celtics fans would welcome him (and his huge wallet) with open arms.
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Matt Gegan