LeBron James, who currently plays for the Lakers, is potentially looking into owning the Boston Celtics along with the Red Sox. The sale of the Celtics is a two-step process, with 49 percent of the team not being sold until 2028. This means that James, who may retire by that time, could end up owning a stake in the Celtics, which are valued at a record $6 billion.
Fenway Sports Group, which already owns the Red Sox and the NESN sports network, is considering buying the Celtics. They are also working on bringing an NBA franchise to Las Vegas, along with a new arena. James, who became a billionaire in 2022, has expressed interest in owning a franchise, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan.
Other potential buyers for the Celtics include long-time minority owner Stephen Pagliuca and the Koch family, who recently acquired a stake in the Nets. Pagliuca already owns 20 percent of the Celtics and could make a bid for the team. The Koch family, worth over $60 billion, is interested in owning an NBA franchise close to their New York City home.
The Celtics, who are well over the league’s salary cap, are facing record-breaking luxury tax penalties heading into the next season. After signing Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, the team is projected to have a combined salary and tax penalty of $513 million in the 2025-26 season, surpassing the previous record set by the Golden State Warriors.
Although the Celtics do not own the TD Garden Arena, a new owner would likely need to financially support the team as they do not generate revenue from concerts and other events at the arena. The NBA franchise prices have been increasing in recent years, with the Phoenix Suns being acquired for a record $4 billion in 2022.
Fenway Sports Group and RedBird Capital have not commented on the potential acquisition of the Celtics, and LeBron James, who is currently competing in the Olympics, could not be reached for a statement. The sale of the Celtics is expected to attract multiple bidders, with the current owner, Wyc Grousbeck, looking for the right buyer to take over the team.