When Michael Jordan agreed to purchase the Charlotte Bobcats in late February, he became the first player to own a majority stake in an NBA franchise. David Stern said he expects the other owners to approve the former Bulls’ star before the end of March.
His bid to take the team’s reigns from BET founder Robert Johnson raises an interesting question. Why haven’t more former players expressed interest in NBA ownership?
For most of pro basketball’s existence, hoops bosses have allowed front office chiefs to handle roster decisions and execute trades. Those hardwood CEOs succeeded by staying out the way. Then, Mark Cuban, a Dallas Mavericks season-ticket holder and convenient billionaire, decided he did not like where the team was headed under Ross Perot’s negligent stewardship and bought it.
The charismatic 45-year-old does not boast athleticism or any commendable basketball skills, but he has redefined ownership in the sport. An owner can do more than just write checks and chaperone the team’s budget.
With too many fraudulent cheapskates helming deplorable franchises, maybe it’s time for players to follow Cuban and Jordan. When Cuban med ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Robert Kleeman
Kleeman’s Jump Hook: Five NBA Players Who Should Consider Ownership
March 9th, 2010 by Robert Kleeman Leave a reply »
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