Celtics

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was ‘saddened’ to hear the Celtics are for sale

"I think it’s bittersweet for everyone."

By Khari Thompson

July 18, 2024

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Changes are coming to the Celtics’ ownership group, with Boston Basketball Partners announcing plans to sell the team.

According to Dan Shaugnessy of The Boston Globe, the sale is being driven by H. Irving Grousbeck, father of Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck.

The move is reportedly part of the elder Grousbeck’s attempt to get his affairs in order.

NBA commissioner Adam Sliver offered his reaction to the move this week during Summer League in Las Vegas.

“I’m frankly saddened by it,” Silver said, according to MassLive’s Souichi Terada. “Just because not only have they won two championships (under current ownership), but beyond that, they’ve operated the team in a first-class manner and he’s been a first-class owner in this league,”

“Again, I respect the decision that his family has made that it’s time to sell the team,” Silver added. “I think it’s bittersweet for everyone. Hopefully the successor owner or owners will be as fantastic stewards of the team as they have been. They’ve been a model franchise with model ownership.”

Silver praised Wyc Grousbeck for his involvement in the league.

“Wyc has been involved with the league now for roughly 22 years,” Silver said. “He’s been a leader in terms of our committee system at our board. He’s been intimately involved in every aspect of the league, from collective bargaining to revenue sharing to media. I understand the family circumstances and why he and his family have elected at this moment to sell the franchise.”

The Celtics are fresh off of their first championship since 2008. The decision to sell shocked many, including star forward Jayson Tatum.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the ownership group’s intent to sell isn’t expected to affect the operations side of things for now. While the ownership group intends to sell a majority stake either this year or next year, Wyc Grousbeck plans to stay on as governor through 2028.