Former owner takes his name out of running to purchase stake in Boston Celtics
Joe Lacob, the current owner of the Golden State Warriors, has taken his name out of the running to be part of the next ownership group of the Boston Celtics after previously being a minority owner from 2006-2010.
"No chance," Lacob told David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson on "The Athletic NBA Show" (h/t CBS Sports). "No chance, sorry. That ship sailed a long time ago — a long, long time ago. I'm a Warrior, this is my identity, it's our identity. I love what we've done. I love our fans, our arena (and) the last decade, and I just wanna do more. I just wanna create an even longer and even greater legacy for this organization."
News of the Cs ownership group selling stock in the franchise came on the heels of the team winning Banner 18 and re-signing Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to long-term extensions. To many, the current ownership group is seemingly getting out of either having to be the bad guy who sold a championship-winning piece down the line or paying massive tax bills. Or both.
Smart move. Win and get out.
Adam Silver not happy about sale of Boston Celtics
NBA commissioner Adam Silver sounded just as disappointed about the Celtics selling the team as fans who fear Boston Red Sox owner John Henry making a move to buy given his recent history leading a legendary MLB franchise out of its glory years.
“I’m frankly saddened by it,” Silver said (h/t MassLive’s Souichi Terada). “Just because not only have they won two championships (under current ownership), but beyond that, they’ve operated the team in a first-class manner and he’s been a first-class owner in this league.
“Again, I respect the decision that his family has made that it’s time to sell the team. I think it’s bittersweet for everyone. Hopefully the successor owner or owners will be as fantastic stewards of the team as they have been. They’ve been a model franchise with model ownership.”
It's not known whether new ownership will change the team's culture, but it's a legitimate fear. Bad ownership can be seen across the NBA, and when it occurs, it's devastating to anyone with a cheering interest.