logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
23m 28s

Can anyone afford an NBA team?

Financial Times
About this episode

The 2024 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, but eyes are still on a team that was knocked out last week. The Minnesota Timberwolves are caught up in an ownership dispute that’s gone south pretty fast, after two prospective buyers attempted to finance their purchase of the team in an unconventional way. The FT’s US sports business correspondent Sara Germano breaks down how the deal came together, fell apart, and the can of worms it’s since opened about owning US sports teams. 


Clips from Bleacher Report, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, KARE 11, House of Highlights, The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

For further reading:

The off-the-court fight for one of the NBA’s hottest teams

Private equity gears up for potential National Football League investments

Michael Jordan agrees to sell majority stake in NBA’s Charlotte Hornets

Mark Cuban’s Mavericks bet

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 


On X, follow Sara Germano (@germanotes) and Saffeya Ahmed (@saffeya_ahmed).


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
A case of Schrödinger’s tariffs
It’s been exactly 90 days since US President Donald Trump paused most of his ‘reciprocal’ tariffs. With just a 10 per cent blanket tariff on all imports and a higher tariff on China, economists predicted the American economy would feel the heat pretty quickly. But the sky hasn’t ... Show More
19m 49s
Jul 2
How oil traders called the Middle East war
When Iran attacked a US airbase in Qatar – a response to strikes on its nuclear facilities – many feared a global war may be imminent. But there was one market that didn’t break a sweat: oil. It’s typically a commodity that surges at the first sight of conflict in the Middle East ... Show More
19m 14s
Jun 25
The end of the UK’s ‘bailout era’
The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government just sold its last shares in it ... Show More
16m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Chicago Bulls’ Alex Caruso, The A’s Moving To Sacramento, Stefon Diggs Traded And Tiger Stopped Having Sex
The NCAA is trying to screw UConn (00:00:00-00:04:50). The A’s are moving to Sacramento and Big Cat has an offer for John Fisher (00:04:50-00:10:04). Stefon Diggs traded and Tiger is swearing off sex for the Masters (00:10:04-00:29:20). We make picks for the weekend before we hea ... Show More
2h 4m
Feb 2025
More Luka Trade Fallout! The Pulse of Mavs Fans with Will Cain. Fox to the Spurs. Plus the LeBron, Klutch and Lakers Plans with Jovan Buha.
Russillo starts the show by once again trying to make sense of the Mavericks trading Luka Dončić (0:40). Then, he’s joined by Will Cain to gain a fan's perspective of the Luka trade and discuss the differences between ESPN and Fox News (16:02). Next, Ryen shares his thoughts on D ... Show More
2h 8m
Mar 2025
A Fix For Tanking? Expansion Teams Coming Soon? NBA To Europe?
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to talk the major takeaways from the NBA’s board of governors meeting in New York with commissioner Adam Silver. The guys cover the concept of league expansion inching ever closer, a new league in Europe, some uniq ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2024
Draymond Green Show - Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban joins 'The Draymond Green Show' to discuss dropping out of high school, selling his first business for billions, joining 'Shark Tank,’ why he sold the Dallas Mavericks, the upcoming NBA TV deal, having the largest bill in LIV nightclub history after winning the NBA Fin ... Show More
1h 7m
Feb 2025
Why Luka Dončić’s Trade to LA is Business as Usual for the NBA
On Saturday night, the sports world got hit with the news of the Dallas Mavericks’ shocking decision to trade superstar Luka Dončić, as well as Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and their 2029 first-round draft pick. Senior ... Show More
31m 29s
Jan 2025
Wemby’s Outrageous Skillset On Display, NBA On-Court Product Best It Has Ever Been
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to talk Victor Wembanyama’s triumphant return to Paris in a win showcasing his entire skillset before talking the future of the NBA in Europe after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments. Plus, a strong reaction t ... Show More
1h 8m
Jul 2024
NBA Summer League Standouts and Rumors of Westbrook to the Nuggets
Just after the Heat beat the Grizzlies in the nail-biting NBA summer league championship game (0:58), KOC and Verno convene to talk about the standout players from Vegas this summer (8:26). Then they talk about the rumors flying around that Russell Westbrook will sign with the De ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2024
The Thunder and Bucks Hit It Big in Vegas. Plus, Does the Dennis Schröder Trade Change the Warriors’ Outlook? | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and Wos were together in Vegas to watch the NBA Cup semifinals. They give their immediate reactions to the Thunder defeating Rockets (3:40) and the Bucks beating the Hawks (25:23). Then they discuss their thoughts on the Warriors trading for Dennis Schröder (46:18). ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 7
The Bleakest NBA Team Situations (Next 5 Years) With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to react to the latest NBA free agency news (1:50). Then, they break down the teams with the worst roster situations in the East and the West (18:40). Finally, they discuss LeBron’s situation with the Lakers, Deandre Ayton, and ... Show More
1h 46m
Mar 2025
Did the Mavericks Make Another Mistake? Plus, No Crown for the Kings. | Real Ones
Logan and Howard mf’in Beck are joined by Sam Amick of The Athletic to discuss the Mavericks' recent decisions and the Kings' continuing spiral. Anthony Davis returned for the Mavericks' game against the Nets Monday night in Brooklyn, but should they have just kept him out due to ... Show More
1h 20m