The National Basketball Association (NBA), often hailed as one of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the world, has witnessed numerous legendary basketball players, including LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and many others who have ruled the NBA arena with their dominant exploits on the court.
After witnessing extremely successful and star-studded careers in the National Basketball Association, a few of these trailblazing basketball stalwarts have gone ahead and become team owners after their official retirement from the league, establishing themselves as the ultimate multimillionaires overnight.
With the skyrocketing popularity of the National Basketball Association over the past few decades, the iconic basketball players have started earning enormous amounts such as match fees and highly lucrative brand endorsements. While a majority of basketball legends have invested their fortune in setting up new business ventures, a few of them have gone ahead and bought the teams that they once played for, leaving the fans absolutely stunned. Have you ever wondered about the top-notch NBA players who bought prominent teams after announcing their official retirement from the league? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four basketball players who bought their own teams after announcing their retirement from the National Basketball Association.
Top 4 NBA Players Who Became Team Owners After Retirement
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Michael Jordan
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The legendary American former professional basketball player Michael Jordan, often also popularly referred to as “MJ”, is at the first spot in our list of the top four legendary NBA players who became team owners after their successful careers. Throughout his glorious NBA career, Michael Jordan played a total of fifteen seasons and clinched a record total of six championship titles with the Chicago Bulls team.
Often hailed as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, Michael Jordan announced his official retirement from the NBA in 2003 and became a majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2010, establishing himself as the first former NBA player to become a majority owner of a franchise. Michael Jordan remained the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats until he sold the majority stake to the Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall investor group in 2023.
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Dwayne Wade
At the second spot on our list of the top four basketball players who bought their own teams after announcing their retirement from the National Basketball Association, we have the legendary American former professional basketball player Dwayne Wade, who is currently co-owner of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. Often regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in the history of the NBA, Dwayne Wade clinched a total of three championship titles throughout his glorious career.
Dwayne Wade announced his official retirement from the National Basketball Association in 2019 and purchased the majority stake in the Utah Jazz in April 2021. Additionally, the legendary American former shooting guard Dwayne Wade joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky as a minority stakeholder in July 2023.
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Magic Johnson
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four legendary NBA players who became team owners after their successful careers, we have the American businessman and former professional basketball player Magic Johnson, who is often hailed as one of the greatest point guards of all-time. Throughout his star-studded NBA career, Magic Johnson played a total of thirteen seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and clinched a record total of five championship titles in the years 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988.
Magic Johnson announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association in 1996 and became a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) a couple of years later in 2012. Additionally, Magic Johnson joined the ownership group of the Los Angeles Sparks in 2014. Moreover, Magic Johnson also became a co-owner of the Washington Commanders (NFL) in 2023.
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Steve Nash
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four basketball players who bought their own teams after announcing their retirement from the National Basketball Association, we have the trailblazing Canadian professional basketball coach and former player, Steve Nash, who most recently served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. Throughout his glorious NBA career, Steve Nash played a total of eighteen seasons in the National Basketball Association for numerous prominent teams, including the Phoenix Suns (1996-1998), the Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2012-2015).
Steve Nash announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association in 2015 at the age of forty-one. After just a few months of his official retirement, Steve Nash became one of the early members of the investor group that formed the Vancouver Whitecaps. Although Steve Nash has been a minority owner of the MLS team ever since 2015, he has received enormous praise and recognition for his successful exploits both on and off the court.
