The sale of the Boston Celtics should ramp up this week, as the first round of bids will be submitted by Thursday, January 23. The Boston Celtics should receive at least four bids from investment groups trying to purchase the team. According to the latest reports, Fenway Sports Group, where LeBron James is a minority owner, will not be among the bidders.
LeBron James Not Interested in Buying the Boston Celtics
There were a couple of reports on Monday that the John-Henry led group, would be interested in buying the Celtics. Chris Cotillo from MassLive shut down those rumors. FSG, which owns the Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and the Pittsburgh Penguins among other sporting properties, was rumored to be in the mix. But while some reports claimed that they will make a bid, LeBron James and company will not try to buy the Boston Celtics.
LeBron joined FSG in 2011, and his stake rose up to one percent in 2021. James might be only a minority owner, but his reputation among athletes is what brings attention to FSG.
James and Company Set Sight on Another NBA Franchise
The four-time NBA MVP has previously expressed his interest in buying an NBA team or being part of an NBA ownership. However, James has his eyes on another franchise, not the Boston Celtics. For a few years, James has been advocating about bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas. He hopes to be part of the investment group that will make that a reality. In 2022, after a preseason game in Vegas, he sent a message to the NBA Commissioner. He said,
“It is the best fan base in the world. I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing. I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now I believe. But he probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes from NBA players. So, I want the team here, Adam, thank you.”
In the past few years, James has been vocal about trying to own a team. During a podcast by The Shop in 2022, he talked about his future plans. Asked whether he would rather own a team or talk on TV like other retired NBA players, James said,
“I am a fan of the game. I am engaged. I care about the sport. I know everything about our sport. I want to continue to help our sport grow. I want to own a team. I want to buy a team for sure. I would much rather own a team before I talk.”
CBA Prevents James from Owning a Team
James is 40 years old and near the end of his career. He has a contract that runs through the 2025-26 season. Legally, he cannot be part of any NBA ownership before his contract expires. The new CBA states that “no NBA player may acquire or hold a direct or indirect interest in the ownership of any NBA team or in any company or entity, whether privately or publicly owned, that owns any interest in any NBA team”.
For James to be part of any ownership group, he will have to wait until he retires. As he is nearing the end of his career, LeBron has accomplished almost everything. There are a few records he can break, but he is already the leading scorer in NBA history. He got to play with his son Bronny James, and now, many people speculate he might wait for Bryce James to join the league as well.
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