A seismic shift just rocked the NBA, with the Boston Celtics’ $6.1 billion sale sending shockwaves through the league and prompting Carmelo Anthony to deliver a playful yet pointed message to Knicks owner James Dolan. In case you missed it, the Celtics are being sold to billionaire investor Bill Chisholm for that jaw-dropping amount, though the deal still needs the NBA Board of Governors’ approval.
While the news stunned many fans, Melo took this as an opportunity to send a message to New York Knicks owner James Dolan. First, he pointed out something that often goes unnoticed—the Celtics don’t always get the recognition they deserve. “They [Celtics] don’t get the credit that they really deserve… For that organization, $6.1 billion… If I’m Grous, I’m getting the hell out of here, too. 6.1. Here, you can have this s—,” Melo said.
And honestly, he has a point. Just look at Jayson Tatum. The 6x All-Star led Boston to a championship just last season. Yet social media trolls waste no time taking shots at him. But beyond the fan narratives, the Celtics’ sale raises a bigger question: What does this mean for the rest of the NBA? Well, as per an article by Entrepreneur, there is likely some sadness from the Grousbeck family on the sale of the team that they have owned since 2002. “What that does is that puts the league on alert,” Melo said on the podcast.
Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) stand on the court during a timeout during the second half of their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Carmelo Anthony, amid such circumstances, has an idea for his former franchise in New York. For those unaware, the Knicks owner James Dolan recently did the Roommates podcast, where he said he’ll never sell the team and keep it in the family.
“I wouldn’t either… Just let me in. I wouldn’t either. Let me in a little bit. Like, let me get that,” Melo said on his podcast, hilariously. Considering that Anthony has now seemingly squashed his past beef with Dolan, the idea would not be completely off the table. Moreover, co-owners are an important aspect of any franchise’s structure. A role that we came close to witnessing, taking a higher form with the Celtics. But things went the other way.
Not everyone in the Celtics group was happy with the Celtics’ sale
Boston is on the verge of making history with what’s being called the biggest sale of a sports franchise in North America. At the center of it all is Bill Chisholm, a lifelong Celtics fan who’s ready to take the reins. Chisholm, co-founder of Symphony Technology Group, isn’t just another businessman stepping into sports. He’s a Boston native who understands just how much the Celtics mean to the city.
“Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life,” he shared, making it clear he knows the weight of this responsibility. He added, “The role the team plays in the community is different than any other city in the country.”
But not everyone is celebrating this deal. Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, who put in a major bid for the team, wasn’t able to close the deal. And he’s not hiding his disappointment. “We made a fully guaranteed and financed offer at a record price, befitting the best sports fans in the world,” he said, emphasizing that his group was deeply committed to the Celtics and the Boston community.
Losing out stung, as he admitted, “We’ve been saddened to find out that we have not been selected in the process.” However, this might not be over just yet. If the deal falls through, Pagliuca is standing by, making one thing clear: “If it does, Pagliuca is ‘ready to check back into the game and bring it home.’”
As the NBA landscape continues to evolve, the Celtics’ historic sale and Anthony’s playful suggestion raise intriguing questions about the future of team ownership. Whether Dolan takes Anthony up on his offer remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the league is watching, and the possibilities are endless.
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