There’s a new rumor in the race to own the Celtics

It's been almost two months since Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck made it known that he was going to sell his stake in the Celtics. And since then, outside of a few comments here and there, there's been a whole lot of nothing from both inside the C's walls and even outside of them, for that matter.

But now we have an absolute whopper of a rumor regarding a potential buyer in the mix for the Celtics, according to NBA commentator/podcast and Celtics superfan Bill Simmons.

"In the last few days, there’s been some, I think, legitimate buzz about Jeff Bezos buying the Celtics," Simmons said on his podcast. "And I think it’s real. I think he’s going to be one of the suitors."

Simmons also went on to note that the NBA would like to see the Celtics sold for $6 billion.

One of the richest men in the world, with a net worth of over $200 billion according to Forbes, Bezos could absolutely afford to pay $6 billion for the Celtics if that's what ownership (and the NBA) wants. This also isn't the first time that Bezos has been in the market for a professional sports team, with the Amazon founder previously making an unsuccessful push to own the NFL's Washington Commanders.

When word of the Celtics' sale first broke, Bezos was given the sixth-best odds of being the Celtics' next owner (according to BetOnline), at 8-1. The five ahead of Bezos on that list included Larry Ellison (2-1), Steve Pagliuca (3-1), Abigail Johnson (4-1), Jeremy Jacobs (5-1), and Fenway Sports Group (6-1). 

Of that group, Pagliuca is the only one with a current direct connection to the Celtics, with the Bain Capital chairman a co-owner of the C's with Grousbeck. And Pagliuca, for what it's worth, released a statement of his own following Grousbeck's announcement in July.

“I am grateful and thankful for the 21-year partnership I have enjoyed with Wyc and Irv Grousbeck, the Epstein family, and all the incredible Celtics investment partners. It has been a remarkable run that resulted in two NBA Championships for the best and most passionate fans in professional basketball, capped off with an amazing duck boat parade last week in Boston,” Pagliuca said. “Along with the championships, we are most proud of the growth of our community impact efforts and the dedication of the investor group, coaches, players and staff to helping community members who are in need.”

“Being a co-investor and Managing Partner of the Celtics has been a great honor and a labor of love,” he added. “I hope to be part of the Celtics moving forward and will be a proud participant in the bidding process that has been announced today.”

Grousbeck has previously said that his family hopes to have the majority stake in the team sold by early 2025, and with the remaining shares sold by 2028.

After an early preview gave us an update on four of the games on the Celtics' schedule for next season, Thursday came with the rest of the Green's 2024-25 released by the NBA.

Back on top of the NBA world with a five-game NBA Finals series victory over the Mavs' one-two punch of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics' pursuit of Banner 19 will kick off with a banner-raising night against the Knicks on Oct. 22, while the year as a whole will see them look to become the first NBA team to go back-to-back since the Warriors accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018. And the Celtics, for what it's worth, have not repeated as NBA champions since back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969.

And for the second year in a row, the NBA will have their in-season tournament (the NBA Cup), with the Celtics slotted in East Group C, which is comprised of the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Washington Wizards. The C's will play four designated Group Play games that will be held on “Cup Nights” every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3, with one game against each opponent, two games at home and two on the road. Boston will host the Hawks on Nov. 12, and the Cavs on Nov. 19, and play the Wizards in Washington on Nov. 22, and the Bulls in Chicago on Nov. 29.

The team with the best standing in Group Play games from each of the six groups will advance to the Knockout Rounds. One wild card team from each conference (the second-place finisher with the best record in Group Play games) will also advance and complete the eight-team Tournament bracket.  

The complete schedule can be found below, with all times listed in EST, and all games available to be heard on the Celtics Radio Network...

Oct. 22 vs. Knicks (7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 24 @ Washington (7:00 p.m.)

Oct. 26 @ Detroit (7:00 p.m.)

Oct. 28 vs. Bucks (7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 30 @ Indiana (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 1 @ Charlotte (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 2 @ Charlotte (6:00 p.m.)

Nov. 4 @ Atlanta (7:45 p.m.)

Nov. 6 vs. Warriors (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 8 vs. Nets (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 10 @ Milwaukee (3:30 p.m.)

Nov. 12 vs. Hawks (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 13 @ Brooklyn (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 16 vs. Raptors (8:00 p.m.)

Nov. 19 vs. Cavaliers (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 22 @ Washington (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 24 vs. Timberwolves (3:30 p.m.)

Nov. 25 vs. Clippers (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 29 @ Chicago (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 1 @ Cleveland (6:00 p.m.)

Dec. 2 vs. Heat (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 4 vs. Pistons (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 6 vs. Bucks (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 7 vs. Grizzlies (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 10-17: NBA Cup tournament playoffs

Dec. 19 vs. Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 21 @ Chicago (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 23 @ Orlando (7:00 p.m.)

Dec. 25 vs. 76ers (5:00 p.m.)

Dec. 27 vs. Pacers (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 29 vs. Pacers (6:00 p.m.)

Dec. 31 vs. Raptors (3:00 p.m.)

Jan. 2 @ Minnesota (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 3 @ Houston (8:00 p.m.)

Jan. 5 @ Oklahoma City (3:30 p.m.)

Jan. 7 @ Denver (10:00 p.m.)

Jan. 10 vs. Kings (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 12 vs. Pelicans (6:00 p.m.)

Jan. 15 @ Toronto (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 17 vs. Magic (7:00 p.m.)

Jan. 18 vs. Hawks (7:00 p.m.)

Jan. 20 @ Golden State (5:00 p.m.)

Jan. 22 @ L.A. Clippers (10:30 p.m.)

Jan. 23 @ L.A. Lakers (10:00 p.m.)

Jan. 25 @ Dallas (5:30 p.m.)

Jan. 27 vs. Rockets (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 29 vs. Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 31 @ New Orleans (8:00 p.m.)

Feb. 2 @ Philadelphia (6:00 p.m.)

Feb. 4 @ Cleveland (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 6 vs. Mavericks (7:30 p.m.)

Feb. 8 @ New York (8:30 p.m.)

Feb. 10 @ Miami (7:30 p.m.)

Feb. 12 vs. Spurs (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 14-19: NBA All-Star Break

Feb. 20 @ Philadelphia (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 23 vs. Knicks (1:00 p.m.)

Feb. 25 @ Toronto (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 26 @ Detroit (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 28 vs. Cavaliers (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 2 vs. Nuggets (1:00 p.m.)

Mar. 5 vs. Blazers (7:00 p.m.)

Mar. 6 vs. 76ers (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 8 vs. Lakers (8:30 p.m.)

Mar. 10 vs. Jazz (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 12 vs. Thunder (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 14 @ Miami (7:00 p.m.)

Mar. 15 @ Brooklyn (6:00 p.m.)

Mar. 18 vs. Nets (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 21 @ Utah (9:30 p.m.)

Mar. 23 @ Portland (6:00 p.m.)

Mar. 24 @ Sacramento (10:00 p.m.)

Mar. 26 @ Phoenix (10:00 p.m.)

Mar. 29 @ San Antonio (8:00 p.m.)

Mar. 31 @ Memphis (8:00 p.m.)

Apr. 2 vs. Heat (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 4 vs. Suns (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 6 vs. Wizards (6:00 p.m.)

Apr. 8 @ New York (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 9 @ Orlando (7:00 p.m.)

Apr. 11 vs. Hornets (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 13 vs. Hornets (1:00 p.m.)