After 15 long years, the Celtics ravaged the Dallas Mavericks to bring home the 18th banner to Boston. And while the green confetti is still flying in the air and players are still riding the wave of success, Boston was left in utter disbelief when they found out Wyc Grousbeck was planning on selling the franchise in the coming months, reportedly due to “estate and family planning considerations”.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first broke the news via X, calling it a “massive development for one of the sports’ most valuable properties”. Later, the team also released an official statement that read, “The managing board of the ownership group expects to sell a majority interest in 2024 or early 2025, with the balance closing in 2028, and expects Wyc Grousbeck to remain as the Governor of the team until the second closing in 2028.” So, with Wyc’s decision clear now after 22 years with the team, who’s gonna be the next owner of the Celtics?

Amid all the chaos, Amazon’s Founder Jeff Bezos has entered the discussion with a eyebrow raising move(literally). The 60-year-old business is reportedly selling 25 million shares worth $5 billion of his two trillion dollar company. With Amazon’s stock value hitting an all-time high at $200.43 on Tuesday, Bezos likely wanted to cash in at that price. But why would the billionaire suddenly want access to so much money?

Well, as it turns out, the Celtics’ current estimated worth is $4.7 billion and with Wyc deciding to sell the team, the franchise is expected to be evaluated in the ballpark of $5 billion at the time of sale. Not that the second-richest man on this planet needs to cash out $5 billion to make an offer on the Celtics. He has a net worth of  $214.3 billion, he can easily buy the Celtics and still not feel any losses.

Evidently, his interest in buying an NBA team should not come as a surprise, since he’s been eyeing this step for quite some time. Long before the Celtics buzz, the multi-billionaire was reportedly also interested in purchasing the Phoenix Suns when they were up for sale two years ago. However, Mat Ishbia beat Bezos to it for a record sale price of $4 billion, leaving his dream unfulfilled. But now, with $5 billion ready, Bezos seems poised to seize another opportunity to accomplish his goal. Perhaps now’s his time!

But how convinced is the NBA community?

NBA world questions Celtics’ future with Jeff Bezos as owner

Keeping all speculation aside, fans are still trying to connect a few dots here. Is Bezos really going to make the move and enter into the NBA fraternity? While some fans are pro-Bezos right now, others worry that the team would face a horrible future if he enters the picture, especially considering Amazon’s questionable treatment of its employees in recent years. So, this comment by a netizen seems quite apt: “No more bathroom breaks during practice.” Notably, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, Bezos has frequently been criticized for harsh treatment toward his employees at Amazon. In a survey conducted last year of 1484 Amazon warehouse workers from across the nation, almost 70% of them revealed that they had to take unpaid leaves to cope with the mental and physical exhaustion at the job.

Taking a page from that same book, another fan aimed a dig toward the new ownership and commented, “Practice starts at 3 pm. 1 minute late that’s a Time Of Task (ToT), one hour unpaid time deduction, negative unpaid time you’re being traded for nothing.”

Meanwhile, some fans believed that Bezos taking over would solve Boston’s financial problems because of how much money he has access to. Thoughts like: “Someone who isnt afraid to pay the luxury tax.”, and “great so they can just have more money spawn out of nowhere” started flooding in as the Celtics’ starting five are owed a combined $939 million in their new contracts, putting the team in huge luxury tax crisis for several years. But Bezos might not hesitate to take that hit.

Another social media user started picturing hilarious scenarios and speculated, “The Amazon Celtics? Prime Garden instead of TD? 😅”. 

While the rumors have generated mixed reactions, it will be interesting to see how things will transpire if Bezos actually uses his sold shares to buy the team. And if he really does take up the role, he will be catapulted into a situation of chaos. He definitely has his work cut out, especially considering the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the NBA. Plus, it will be a nail-biter to manage the expensive squad he will get in the deal, nevertheless the ultimate winners!

What’s your take on Bezos buying the Celtics? Do you think it’s possible? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the alleged Shaq and Kobe Lakers beef. Keep checking this space for more such updates.