Flashback: Larry Bird nearly acquired the Charlotte Hornets

Boston Celtics Uncategorized Boston Celtics NEWZMOLE March 31, 2024 0 Comments

Flashback: Larry Bird nearly acquired the Charlotte Hornets

When considering the Charlotte Hornets’ past, it’s interesting to note that another NBA star came close to purchasing the team.
Even though Michael Jordan is the team’s current owner, what may have happened if another NBA icon had purchased the Charlotte Hornets? It seems that Jordan wasn’t the only sports star who wanted to own an NBA team in Charlotte.

After the Hornets left town in 2002, a lot of people showed a genuine interest in purchasing a new Charlotte team. The storied owner group of the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird, was among the most prominent.

A attempt to purchase the new Charlotte team that would be selected in the expansion draft for the 2004–05 season was made by Bird in 2002. Bird had to wait until after the 2002 playoffs to submit a proposal to purchase the team, according to USA Today.

But Bird’s attempt to take over the Charlotte team would not succeed. Instead, Black Entertainment Television’s founder Robert Johnson was given the franchise. Then, Johnson would make history in major American sports as the first African American majority owner.

Bird was “heartbroken,” according to a statement he published after losing the race to own the franchise in Charlotte, according to his representative. In addition, Bird’s statement said:

Bird was appointed President of Basketball Operations of the Indiana Pacers in 2003 following the bid’s defeat. Before retiring in 2017, Bird was a member of the Pacers for over thirteen years. He continues to advise the team to this day.

During his thirteen-year career, Bird averaged 24.3 points and ten rebounds a game while playing for Boston. In 1998, Bird received another induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

But given the current situation, Bird will have to wait longer for his ambition of owning an NBA franchise to materialize. Will Bird ever have the opportunity to own his own team, given his current position with the Pacers?