Michael Jordan is preparing to sell the Charlotte Hornets.
Jordan is engaged in serious talks to sell a controlling portion of the franchise to an ownership group led by current minority owner Gabe Plotkin and Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnall, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Specifics of that deal are not yet known, though a sale is not imminent. Jordan is expected to keep a minority stake in the team, but Plotkin and Schnall would become co-governors.
Jordan first became a minority owner in the franchise in 2006. He then purchased the Bobcats in 2010 for $275 million. The team has made the playoffs just three times since Jordan took over as the majority owner, but they have never made it out of the first round.
The Hornets are currently worth $1.7 billion, according to Forbes. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans are worth less, but not by much. The Golden State Warriors are the most valuable team in the league at $7 billion.
Former Michigan State guard Mat Ishbia purchased the Phoenix Suns and Mercury earlier this season for around $4 billion, which nearly doubled the previous league record of $2.35 billion that Joe Tsai purchased the Brooklyn Nets for in 2019. Jordan’s deal selling the Hornets likely won’t come close to Ishbia’s purchase price, as he is still keeping part of the franchise for himself and Plotkin already owns part of the team.
