Surprise Finalist Announced as Jeff Bezos Tries to Buy NBA Franchise: Report

On July 1, just days after winning the NBA championship, the Boston Celtics' ownership group, Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C., publicly announced that the 18-time champions are for sale .

On August 19, Bill Simmons reported on his podcast that there had been some "legitimate buzz about Jeff Bezos buying the Celtics."

"I think it's real," Simmons said. "I think he's going to be one of the suitors."

Fast forward to Thursday, September 5 and a report aired on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" suggests that the billionaire Amazon founder remains one of three finalists in the running.

According to Boston sports reporter Courtney Cox citing a single source with knowledge of the team's pitch deck, the race could come down to Bezos Expeditions, the Las Vegas-based luxury hotel and casino brand Wynn and a surprise local bidder, "Sam Kennedy and group."

Kennedy, 51, is a partner and CEO of Fenway Sports Group , which owns stakes in the Boston Red Sox (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Liverpool FC (EPL), RFK Racing (NASCAR) and Boston's regional sports network NESN, among others.

"It does not say Fenway Sports Group, it says Sam Kennedy," Cox confirmed.

As Simmons noted on his August 19 podcast episode, Celtics ownership, led by the Grousbeck family, is seeking a $6 billion price tag for the team.

The most recent NBA franchise to be sold, the Phoenix Suns, garnered $4 billion in 2022 from billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia. Included in the record-setting deal was also a majority ownership stake in the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, according to ESPN .

Related: Bill Simmons Floats Wild Celtics-Amazon Stadium Idea as Jeff Bezos 'Buzz' Grows