Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has revealed he would be interested in speaking to billionaire Jeff Bezos for a potential partnership to buy an NBA team.
O’Neal is one of several high profile names who are thought to be considering buying the Phoenix Suns after owner Robert Sarver announced he would be selling the team last week.
Among those rumoured to be interested is Amazon founder Bezos, and if he is interested he’s certainly got the cash to make it happen – a fact O’Neal is acutely aware of.
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Speaking to TMZ Sport, O’Neal admitted that he wouldn’t stand a chance if the second richest man in the world had his heart set on buying the franchise.
"Nobody on this planet can compete with Big Man JB," O’Neal said.
"Because you know what? I just ordered 50 things off Amazon today. Big Man JB got that money coming in!"
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However, O’Neal went on to say that he’d be interested in the idea of a potential partnership, if Bezos was keen.
He added: "If he wants me on board, I would gladly like to talk to him.
"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!"
It is unclear if Bezos really is interested in buying the team, but he’s one of several high fliers linked to a possible purchase in the media. Among those rumoured to be interested are Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs.
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The Phoenix Suns are up for sale after Sarver was hit with a $10 million fine and a year ban from the NBA following accusations of racial and sexist remarks as well as bullying.
In a statement after he announced he would be selling the team, Sarver said: “As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness. I expected that the commissioner's one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.
“But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible – that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past.”
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Topics: Sport, Celebrity, US News, Jeff Bezos
Claire Reid