Rumor: Barack Obama involved with group looking to buy Suns

It seemed inevitable. Eventually, one of the faceless hedge-fund billionaires trying to buy an NBA team would reach out to hoops fan and former president Barack Obama and bring him in as part of an ownership group.

That may be happening in Phoenix. Bill Simmons said in a recent podcast for The Ringer he heard Obama was “involved” with one of the groups looking to buy the Phoenix Suns.

“The days of somebody being able to put in a little amount of money and run the team, those days are over... The one guy who might pull it off and I heard, I’m probably breaking some news here, but I heard Obama is involved in one of the groups. And that’s the one guy who I feel like would make him the actual face, and the money guys would be so happy to have him in the front.”

Obama is rich, but not “buy an NBA team” rich, he would be a minority owner with a group purchasing the team. Whether Obama would want the role as the face of that ownership group, or one of the faces, remains to be seen. But it’s easy to envision him having an interest in an ownership stake and some role with the team.

Current Suns owner Robert Sarver announced he would sell the team in the wake of a report detailing sexual harassment and a toxic work environment he created around the Suns. Sarver was pushed to make the sale when sponsors started pulling away from the team.

Estimates for the price tag for the Suns climb above $3 billion. There is no timeline for the sale of the Suns.

On the court, Phoenix has gotten off to an impressive 3-1 start to the season.