NBA Star Kevin Durant Interested In Joining Commanders Bid: ESPN

ASHBURN, VA — NBA star Kevin Durant is interested in joining a bid to buy the Washington Commanders, he told ESPN. Durant is a native of Prince George's County and has been a lifelong fan of the franchise.

"In a perfect world, I would be a part of it," Durant told ESPN of his interest in a team stake. "I would love to do it. I would love to give a little bit of my money to be a part of the Commanders, but we'll see."

The Washington Post reported last week that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and music mogul Jay-Z, both billionaires, may combine for a bid. Meanwhile, Weather Channel owner Byron Allen is building his own group of investors to bid on the franchise.

• Read more: Bezos, Jay-Z, Byron Allen Among Potential Commanders Buyers: Report

On Wednesday, the Washington Commanders confirmed that owner Dan Snyder has employed Bank of America securities to handle a potential sale of the NFL franchise. Snyder could choose to sell a minority stake or the entire franchise.

"We are exploring all options," a Commanders spokesperson told several reporters.

Durant has plenty of experience as a professional sports owner. In October, Durant and his manager, Rich Kleiman, purchased an expansion team in Major League Pickleball. In 2020, he purchased a 5 percent stake in the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. In May 2022, Durant was named as an investor and minority owner of Gotham FC, a National Women's Soccer League team based in New York City and New Jersey.

"I know we've had some losing seasons, but it's starting to come around for us," Durant told ESPN. "I'm excited as a fan. I'm excited about the sale. I'm excited to see who they bring in and who they sell the team to and see how we move forward with it."

Durant has earned nearly $500 million during his time in the NBA, according to Sporting News. Still, he acknowledged that his wealth pales in comparison to some of the other potential bidders.

"I don't have a lot of money, though. I don't have that much money to say, 'Look, man, let me get a piece of the team,'" Durant said. "So I'm sure it would have to work out some way, somehow. I would love to, obviously, but to be honest, I doubt that it'll happen."

Mat Ishbia, the CEO and president of United Wholesale Mortgage, has also expressed his interest in purchasing the Commanders. Ishbia has a net worth of about $5.1 billion, according to Bloomberg.

"The NFL is a great league and Washington is one of the elite franchises,” Ishbia said in a statement to the Washington Post. "I am interested in exploring this opportunity further in the very near future."

• Read more: Dan Snyder To Consider Potential Sale Of Washington Commanders

On Sunday morning, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported the Commanders could sell for up to $7 billion. Glazer noted the sale could be completed in the next six months. The sale could be finalized at the NFL's annual league meetings beginning on March 26, 2023.

Bookies.com has posted odds on who will be the primary owner of the Commanders at the start of the 2023 season. Snyder is still the favorite with odds of +200, with Bezos not far behind at +225. Other frontrunners include former Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner and current Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

In August, Forbes estimated the Commanders were worth $5.6 billion, ranking sixth among the NFL's 32 teams. Snyder purchased the Commanders in 1999 for $800 million after the death of former owner Jack Kent Cooke.

Snyder's tenure has been embroiled with controversy, especially since 2020. Most recently, a fellow NFL owner told reporters the league needed to consider removing Snyder after accusations of sexual misconduct, financial impropriety, and a hostile workplace.

Snyder is being investigated by the NFL and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. The results of both investigations are still pending.

Related:

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• Washington Football Team Fined $10M After NFL Investigation