With the NBA champion Boston Celtics up for sale, there has been buzz about billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos possibly buying the team.
It all started with Bill Simmons saying he thinks there is "legitimate buzz" about Bezos buying the Celtics after the franchise announced last month that the majority interest would go up for sale. Simmons added that he believes the buzz is "real" and thinks Bezos will indeed be a suitor.
Here's more of what Simmons had to say on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" on Sunday night about Bezos potentially buying the Celtics.
“In the last few days there’s been some I think legitimate buzz about Jeff Bezos buying the Celtics, and I think it’s real. I think he’s gonna be one of the suitors,” Simmons said. “Which got me thinking, why would Jeff Bezos, when he’s looking at the Celtics, what is he seeing? What does he want? I think the only way it makes sense — I mean, granted, he has a gajillion dollars — but it’s one of the crown-jewel franchises, right? That’s why you get it. To him it’d be no different than if he bought this famous, gigantic, $300 million yacht. But I think it’s real that he’s potentially in the mix for this.”
From last night’s pod - why I think Jeff Bezos is a legitimate suitor to buy the Celtics (and what the NBA wants the price to be). pic.twitter.com/O6nrVcYf9I
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 19, 2024
Simmons added that the NBA wants the Boston franchise to sell for a whopping $6 billion. According to Forbes, Bezos' net worth is $196.7 billion.
“It’s a crazy price, but they’re probably gonna get it,” Simmons said. “They want the $6 billion because they want expansion teams in Seattle and Vegas — and Mexico City’s kind of looming as the third team — but they want to get $6 billion apiece for the two franchises for expansion, which would mean a check of $400 million to every NBA owner, all 30.”
With buzz about Bezos possibly being interested in buying the Celtics, fans have begun dreaming of what the team might look like with him at the helm. Here's some social media reactions.
Celtics should -- and undoubtedly would -- welcome a Jeff Bezos bid. Deep pockets (for luxury tax paying purposes), new arena (Bezos isn't paying rent for long). The NBA would love to have Bezos as part of its ownership group, too.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 19, 2024
If Jeff Bezos buys the Celtics. It's a wrap for the league.. that's the kinda money that can fund this team.
— Ray (@RayFroZn) August 19, 2024
The situation of the Celtics going for sale that I would absolutely love
— BasedCelticsFan (@BasedCelticsFan) August 19, 2024
- Bezos becomes the majority owner.
- Bezos makes a deal with Pags and the rest of the current ownership group to let them stay on and help run the team
Infinite money for Brad and local ownership 💰☘️
Me watching Celtics have 300M+ in luxury tax to form the greatest team of all time and Bezos not caring https://t.co/Urr1hCQBHV pic.twitter.com/qZK4WhoPCu
— LeChosenOne (@fnfcharsotd) August 19, 2024
My only request if Bezos buys the Celtics is that when he inevitably builds a new arena, call it the Amazon Rainforest. It's the perfect name for when all the Celtic green has 3's raining down nonstop
— Jim Walsh (@jim_walsh13) August 19, 2024