The NBA is the pre-eminent men’s professional basketball league in North America and is regarded as the premium men’s professional basketball league in the world. NBA team owners are usually wealthy individuals, some celebrities are getting involved in the franchise.
Here are five celebrities who own NBA teams.
5) Shaquille O’Neal, Sacramento Kings
Shaquille O’Neal, a retired American basketball player became a minority owner of the Kings in September 2013. In addition to his basketball career, Shaq has released four rap albums. His first rap album, Shaq Diesel, went platinum. He has appeared in many movies and has starred in his own reality shows Shaq’s Big Challenge and Shaq Vs.
4) Michael Jordan, Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan is the first NBA player ever to successfully become a majority owner of a franchise. He started his involvement with Charlotte Hornets when they were still known as Bobcats. He got hold of a minority share of the new team in 2005, and assumed full ownership in 2010. Popularly known as MJ, Michael Jordan is currently the chairman of Charlotte Hornets. During his playing days, he played 15 seasons in the NBA for Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. His biography on the NBA website states, “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.”

3) Peyton Manning, Memphis Grizzlies
Peyton Manning is an American football quarterback who plays for the Denver Broncos of the NFL. When the Memphis Grizzlies team was sold in 2012, the ownership group was first reported to include Manning’s wife, Ashley, and not Manning. However, later Manning signed on as a limited owner.

2) Justin Timberlake, Memphis Grizzlies
A-list celebrity Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel are minority owners of the Memphis Grizzlies. While he is not as heavily identified with the Memphis Grizzlies as Jay-Z was with the Brooklyn Nets, his presence on the sidelines during the playoffs, and occasionally the regular season, will help bring a little more spotlight onto this franchise.

1) Will Smith, Philadelphia 76ers
World famous actor, rapper and West Philadelphia native Will Smith once first bought into the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011 when the franchise sold for just under $300 million.

These celebrity owners are bringing have brought visibility to their respective teams.
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