Stern believes Jordan will become an NBA owner
By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
April 7, 2004
Not much has been heard lately from Michael Jordan, who has flown under the radar since he played his final game for the Washington Wizards nearly one year ago.
But this phenomenon is only temporary, according to commissioner David Stern, who expects Jordan to become an NBA owner.
``Yes, I would predict that in the next few years Michael Jordan will be an owner of an NBA team,'' Stern said Wednesday in his annual pre-playoff conference call with reporters. ``It's something I want to happen.''
Jordan was on vacation and unavailable for comment, said his spokeswoman, Estee Portnoy.
``Michael has continually expressed an interest in becoming an NBA owner, and that interest is still very strong,'' Portnoy said.
Only one NBA franchise, the Phoenix Suns, is currently on the market. Owner Jerry Colangelo is looking to sell a minority share of the franchise to an investor who would have the right to buy the remainder of the team in several years.
It is not known whether Jordan has held any discussions with Colangelo about the Suns. Colangelo was not available for comment Wednesday, Suns spokeswoman Julie Fie said.
``We're not going to comment on any prospective ownership group. It's not fair to the process,'' Fie said. ``When something is worth talking about, we will.''
Jordan has kept a fairly low profile throughout this NBA season, appearing at the All-Star game in Los Angeles and showing up at a handful of Chicago Bulls games.
He is said to be keeping busy with his endorsement deals, including the Jordan Brand's foray into sponsoring a motorcycle racing team. Jordan also has been spotted attending junior varsity games at Loyola Academy in suburban Chicago, where his son, Jeffrey, is on the team.
Jordan's most recent forays into possible NBA ownership deals included talks last summer with Charlotte Bobcats majority owner Bob Johnson about a role with the expansion team, as well as serious negotiations with Sen. Herb Kohl to purchase control of the Milwaukee Bucks.
``Whenever I see former players who contributed so much to our game get a chance to participate in ownership, like a Magic (Johnson), a Larry (Bird), a Michael, that's great,'' Stern said.
``I think that nothing is as good of an advertisement for the openness of the sport at an ownership level than having its most recognized figure be an owner. I think that sets an extraordinary example for kids and to other players.
``There has always been a sense that ownership was elusive. But to me, to make ownership not elusive, and to have it in the hands of perhaps the most well-known player to ever have played our game, is just an exclamation point on that, and very good for business,'' Stern said.
