• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 23, 2025

NBA Team Stakes Now Open to World’s Largest Funds

  • NBA owners voted to allow pensions, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds to buy minority stakes in teams.
  • The league opened the door to private equity investments in 2020.
Portland Trailblazers forward contests Los Angeles Lakers shot
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is opening its doors to some of the world’s biggest pools of money.

League owners voted to allow sovereign wealth funds, pensions, and endowments to buy minority stakes in teams.

  • Any investment must receive approval from the league’s board of governors. 
  • The league has said that human rights and geopolitical standing will be factored into these decisions, which could affect potential investment from notable funds such as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
  • The league’s new rules only permit passive investments.

Public pension funds held around $21.4 trillion in 2021, while sovereign wealth funds held roughly $10.5 trillion. The NHL is reportedly likely to follow the NBA’s lead in allowing institutional investors.

Adam-Silver-NBA

NBA Tops $10B in Revenue for First Time Ever

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league posted a record year for…
July 14, 2022

Private Party

The NBA began allowing private equity investors to buy limited team stakes in 2020. Private equity firms may own up to 20% of a franchise, and no investment fund may own more than 30% of a team.

Arctos Sports Partners holds stakes in the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

Dyal HomeCourt has pieces of the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, and the Kings.

The investments allow owners to partly cash in on rising team values without giving up control of their franchises.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 25, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics lead owner and governor Bill Chisholm speaks during a press conference at Auerbach Center.

The NBA’s Expanding Private-Equity Footprint

There is a PE connection of some kind for 20 of 30 teams.
Oct 5, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees smiles prior to the game against the New York Giants at Caesars Superdome.

Drew Brees Flag Football League Sells to PE Amid Youth Boom

Football ‘N’ America operates 24 flag football leagues across the country.
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.

Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East

The Middle Eastern nation wants to host major football events.
Jason Belzer

College Sports Is ‘Too Big of an Opportunity’

Panelists at the Asset Class summit agreed college sports is the next frontier.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Louisville’s Miller Moss and several of his teammates stopped by Olympus Gaming Lounge to play EA Sports College Football 26 with fans for a meet and greet. July 11, 2025

Saudis, Silver Lake, Jared Kushner Take EA Private in $55B Deal

Electronic Arts makes “Madden,” “EA Sports College Football,” and more.
Apr 26, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) before game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
June 25, 2025

Rockets Get $20 Million in Wiggle Room From New VanVleet Deal

VanVleet first signed with the Rockets in 2023.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

The LPGA legend on redefining women’s sports and the future of golf.
June 24, 2025

Timberwolves’ 4-Year Ownership Saga Ends As A-Rod, Lore Take Over

The unanimous approval brought a clean end to a long-disputed transaction.
April 20, 2025

Max Verstappen Linked to $300M Aston Martin Deal Ahead of Miami GP

Aston Martin is currently seventh in the constructors championship.
March 27, 2025

Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions Gets PE Boost

The Hall of Famer’s company gains another prominent backer.
March 20, 2025

High School Sports Power Signs Eight-Figure Rights Deal in First

The deal pays roughly $1 million annually, FOS has learned.