Former Hawks All-Star would consider future ownership bid 'for sure'

Let him tell it, former Atlanta Hawks star Jeff Teague was a guy who was fortunate enough to have a cup of coffee in the NBA.

However, the former No. 19 overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft enjoyed a 12-year career, complete with an All-Star appearance in 2014-14 – a sign of his talent as a player – and a championship in 2021.

Teague’s career began with a seven-year stint in Atlanta, and he hopes to return. Sort of.

Asked if he would follow the path of future NFL Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who was recently approved to become part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Teague answered affirmatively.

“For sure,” Teague said in response to the question on the October 17 episode of the “Club 520” podcast. “I hit the lottery for $500 million or something, I'm giving $100 million to the Hawks. I want to be part owner.”

The current ownership group, helmed by Hawks governor Antony Ressler, is still fairly new.

Of the 30 teams in the league, only six owners have been in place for a shorter period than Ressler & Co.

Two of those organizations – the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns – sold in 2023. A fourth, the Utah Jazz, sold in 2021. Ressler’s group paid out $850 million at the time of purchase. That price also included control of Phillips (now State Farm) Arena.

The Hawks rank 16th in the NBA with a valuation of $3.3 billion, per HoopsHype in March.

Jeff Teague would join litany of Hawks minority owners

The Hawks have several minority owners already on board, including Ressler’s wife, actress Jami Gertz, and NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill. 

Teague would join the likes of Hill, Dwyane Wade (Utah Jazz), and Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets) as former players to own stakes in NBA teams. That list will likely grow to include Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James in the not-too-distant future.

James is a proponent of and has been linked to potential ownership of a franchise in Las Vegas.

Ownership also has crossover appeal, with several current NBA players owning stakes in teams from other leagues. 

James has non-controlling interests in the Boston Red Sox in the MLB, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL, Liverpool FC of the EPL, and even RFK Racing in Nascar, per NBC’s Logan Reardon in October 2023.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, the Philadelphia Union (MLS) and NY/NJ Gotham FC (NWSL). 

Los Angeles Clippers star guard James Harden has the Houston Dynamo (MLS) and Dash (NWSL), both of which he co-owns with former box (turned promoter) Oscar De La Hoya.

Once again, Teague is underselling himself. While a controlling stake is reserved for the billionaire class, the influx of private equity into stateside professional sports will make it easier for former players like him to realize their dreams of (partial) ownership.