Boston Celtics $6.1B Sale Nears NBA Approval Within Two Weeks

The Boston Celtics are nearing the completion of a historic $6.1 billion sale to William Chisholm's investment group, pending approval from the NBA Board of Governors. This transaction, set to close within the next two weeks, marks the second-largest NBA franchise sale after the Los Angeles Lakers' $10 billion deal. Chisholm, a Massachusetts native and co-founder of private equity firm STG Partners, will assume full control after the 2027-28 season, with current governor Wyc Grousbeck remaining in his role until then. The ownership group also includes ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal as the second-largest stakeholder and private equity firm Sixth Street holding a significant minority share. The sale underscores a massive appreciation from the Grousbeck family's original $360 million purchase in 2002, highlighting the Celtics' growth and recent success, including the 2008 and 2024 NBA championships. The NBA's approval vote can be conducted remotely, and the deal reflects continued private equity interest in sports franchises alongside ongoing efforts by the Celtics to manage salary cap costs amid recent player injuries and trades.