Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics get stamp of approval for $6.1 billion sale from NBA’s Board of Governors

Jayson Tatum’s team, the Boston Celtics, just received the league’s official green light for a record-setting sale. The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the $6.1 billion purchase of the team by an investor group led by Massachusetts native Bill Chisholm.

The transaction, first agreed to in March, is expected to close soon, marking one of the most expensive deals in U.S. sports history.

Is the Boston Celtics up for sale?

When Boston Basketball Partners LLC announced plans to sell the franchise in July, the deal was set to unfold in two phases, with current CEO and governor Wyc Grousbeck staying in charge through the 2027–28 season. But under NBA ownership rules, governors must hold at least a 15% stake. Since Grousbeck’s share will fall below that threshold, Chisholm will now assume the governor's role immediately.

Despite the change, ESPN reports both men “plan to run the team together as originally planned.” The investor group also features current Celtics co-owner Rob Hale, Related Companies president Bruce Beal Jr., and Sixth Street Partners. BDT & MSD Partners, J.P. Morgan, and the Jordan Park Group advised the sellers, while Goldman Sachs represented the buyers. Legal counsel came from Cooley LLP for the Grousbeck family and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for the Chisholm-led group.

Chisholm, co-founder and managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, has a track record of steering major investments across software, security, and data services. Calling himself a “die-hard Celtics fan,” he beat out at least two rival bids, including one from former Celtics minority partner Steve Pagliuca.

Boston Celtics’ valuation went from $360 Million to $6.1 Billion

The Grousbeck family, along with Steve Pagliuca, bought the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million. Under their stewardship, the team captured two NBA titles in 2008 and 2024, pushing their championship tally to a record 18.

The franchise’s value has soared, fueled by the NBA’s booming media rights market.When the deal closes, Chisholm’s group will control at least 51% of the Celtics, with full ownership expected by 2028. The final price could reach $7.3 billion — eclipsing the $6.05 billion paid for the NFL’s Washington Commanders and the $4 billion valuation of the Phoenix Suns in 2023. The only higher North American sports sale came earlier this year when the Los Angeles Lakers sold for $10 billion.Also Read: Indiana Fever survive mid-game drama as Caitlin Clark prevents enraged coach from earning technical foulBoston’s on-court success comes with off-court challenges. The team carries one of the league’s largest payrolls and does not own its home arena, TD Garden, limiting revenue from concerts and non-basketball events, which has been a growing income source for many franchises. Still, with Jayson Tatum leading a championship-caliber roster and a high-profile ownership group at the helm, the Celtics enter the next chapter of their storied history with record-breaking momentum.