KEY POINTS

  • NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal expressed interest in purchasing Phoenix Suns
  • Potential partnership with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
  • Suns are set to sell for upwards of $2 billion

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal expressed interest in buying the Phoenix Suns but said he could not compete if there was a bid from former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

In a conversation with TMZ Sports on Saturday, O'Neal was asked about buying the team and said he would be open to partnering with Bezos.

O'Neal referred to Bezos as "Big Man JB" in the interview. Bezos is the second richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $136 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index.

"I was interested, but when Big Man JB said he was interested, nobody can compete with Big Man JB," said O'Neal.

O'Neal later added, "If he wants me on board, I would gladly like to talk to him."

The Suns were put up for sale after an investigation found that owner Robert Sarver was involved in workplace misconduct. Sarver owns 30% of the Suns.

The Suns are valued at about $2 billion but can sell for over $2.5 billion.

According to ESPN, the other potential buyers of the Suns are former Disney CEO Bob Iger, ex-Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Wizards minority owner and Laurene Jobs, who is the widow to former Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

The valuation of NBA teams has skyrocketed in recent years, with most teams likely to demand a price tag of at least $2 billion. In 2019, billionaire businessman Joe Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets for a record $3.3 billion.

O'Neal, 50, is one of the NBA's richest former players after multiple lucrative contracts over his 19-year career. The former Los Angeles Laker superstar also has been involved in many business ventures and endorsement deals. Basketball legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson have also bought percentages of NBA teams.

O'Neal, who played five games with the Suns in 2008, continued to heap praise on Bezos in the TMZ interview, adding, "I just ordered 50 things off of Amazon today. Big Man JB got that money coming in!"

NBA Jeff bezos