Photo Courtesy of Andrew Petcash/Twitter
Former Lakers player Shaquille O’Neal is willing to collaborate with billionaire Jeff Bezos in buying the Phoenix Suns but won’t attempt to outbid him.
During his Sept. 25 segment of The Big Podcast, Shaq expressed that he was interested in purchasing the Phoenix Suns until he realized he would have to compete against one of the wealthiest people in the world, Bezos.
“I was open [to the idea of buying the Suns] until I saw the initials JB,” Shaq told his co-hosts, Nischelle Turner and Spice Adams. “Let me tell you something. You don’t mess with James Brown. You don’t mess with Jeff Bezos. When the boys come on stage, get your a** and go. So, Jeff said he wants it, and a couple of other heavy hitters said they want it. I’m not even gonna put my name in the bucket on this one. I’m not.”
In an interview with TMZ Sports, Shaq’s tune changed. He told the outlet that he’s only interested in buying the Phoneix Suns if Bezos collaborated with him in owning the organization.
“If he wants me on board, I would gladly like to talk to him,” Shaq said. “But, as far as trying to own a whole team by myself and go up against…let me tell you something, I’m scared of Big Man JB. Shaq O’Neal is scared of Big Man JB.”
Robert Sarver managed the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. He sent out a press release announcing he was selling both teams after getting a one-year suspension for his racist and sexist comments, in which an independent investigation ensued. In addition to the suspension, the franchise fined Sarver $10 million.
PayPal has a sponsorship with the Suns, but the CEO and President Dan Schulman released a statement affirming that the company would cut ties with the team if Sarver returned after his one-year suspension.