An intriguing rumor of Jeff Bezos buying the Boston Celtics emerged over the summer, and there might be some steam to it.
The Amazon founder reportedly doesn’t have an interest in buying the team. However, The Boston Globe reported Friday there is interest from current Celtics limited partner Robert Hale and Mark Bezos, founding partner of HighPost Capital private equity group and half-brother of Jeff Bezos. Michael Silverman and Shirley Leung noted in their report it was too early to determine what shape the interest shown by Hale and Mark Bezos was.
Wyc Grousbeck shockingly announced in July his group’s intention to sell all shares of the Celtics franchise. The formal sale process started this month with banking companies JPMorgan Chase and BDT & MSD facilitating the bidding on Boston’s behalf.
Hale kept his options to either bid as a lead owner or continue as a limited partner.
“I’m hanging around the hoop, and carefully observing what happens and taking advantage of all opportunities,” said Hale, referencing a basketball strategy for being in the right place at the right time, per The Boston Globe.
Hale has been part of the ownership since 2012 and has the means to be a lead investor. He has a successful Quincy telecommunications company that earned him a place on Forbes magazine’s list with a net worth of $5.8 billion.
Steve Pagliuca, a managing partner of the Celtics and co-governor, was the only candidate to go public with his interest in buying the team. Bezos didn’t offer a comment to The Boston Globe when asked.
