Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Potential Sale of Charlotte Hornets Remains Uncertain

  • Jordan’s management company says ‘it is unclear whether’ NBA legend will offload a controlling interest.
  • Jordan sold a minority stake in the team in 2019.
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Michael Jordan’s management company didn’t add much clarity to last week’s report that the NBA legend wants to offload his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets. 

ESPN reported that Jordan was in serious talks to sell his controlling interest in the franchise he acquired for $275 million in 2010 to a group led by Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin.

The Hornets haven’t made a public statement since the story was published last Thursday. 

But on Wednesday, Jump Management issued a statement about the discussions. 

“Four years ago, Michael Jordan sold a stake in the Charlotte Hornets to a Gabe Plotkin-led group,” the statement noted. “As a natural step in a process due to that transaction, Michael and Gabe are in discussions about his group potentially buying an additional stake. At this time, it is unclear whether an additional sale will take place.”

Plotkin, founder of Melvin Capital, and D1 Capital founder Daniel Sundheim in 2019 bought the minority stake from Jordan in 2019. 

ESPN reported the deal was imminent and that Jordan was expected to keep a minimum stake.

The Hornets are valued at $1.7 billion — the 27th-most-valuable of 30 NBA teams, according to Forbes.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jake Paul Responds to Critics: ‘I Brought Boxing to Netflix’

Paul believes the Tyson fight’s Netflix audience will never be matched.
Cam Newton and Ryan Clark share a laugh during ESPN First Take at Bethune-Cookman University during the show’s HBCU fall tour, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.

5 Takeaways From ESPN’s Latest Layoffs

Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, and Karl Ravech were among those laid off.

Jays, Leafs Owner to Put Stake in Sports Empire Up for Sale

The dominant Canadian entity continues to make large-scale moves.
kyle rudolph

Former Viking Kyle Rudolph: Private Equity ‘Great’ for the NFL

Private equity makes “these assets a little more liquid.”
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/22/26 – World Cup Final Ratings, ESPN Layoffs, LeBron Waits, WFAN to SiriusXM

0:00

Featured Today

Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium
July 16, 2026

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
Topgolf celebrates the grand opening of its newest location in Parsippany, N.J., on July 2.

‘Golf Is Having a Moment’: Topgolf CEO Talks Expansion Plans

Leonard Green & Partners acquired a 60% stake in Topgolf.
June 5, 2026

Tottenham Boardroom Rivalry Ends With Former Chairman’s Exit

Spurs say they “don’t know anything about” the deal.
Aksha Bhatia, Max Homa, and Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links before a TGL match against New York Golf Club at SoFi Center on January 13, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
July 6, 2026

Versant Buys Woods-Backed Golf Simulator Company for $530M

Full Swing is the predominant technology used by TGL.
Sponsored

Inside the EY 2026 Sports Engagement Index: The Real Map of American Sports Participation

EY’s latest index explores how shifting U.S. fan behaviors are expanding the definition of sports engagement.
Charlie Pliner and Nikolas Rohrmann
May 22, 2026

How 2 Brown Undergrads Became Sports Dealmakers

An experimental project turned into a permanent course and business deal network.
Casey Wasserman, Chairperson and President of LA28, during the media conference celebrating the 1000-day countdown to LA28 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
May 8, 2026

Wasserman Buyers Narrow as PE Conflicts Sideline Major Firms

Private-equity firm TA Associates has removed itself from the running.
April 23, 2026

Want to Own a 100-Year-Old Austrian Soccer Team for $500?

Vestible’s first team is Kapfenberger SV 1919.
April 16, 2026

How Taylor Swift’s Catalog Led Her Former Label Boss Into Sports

Scott Borchetta profited greatly from the sale of Swift’s masters.