NFL star Aaron Rodgers just bought a piece of the pie in this NBA franchise
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has become a minority owner in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, it was announced Friday.
The announcement was made to fans at the BMO Harris Bradley Center between the first and second quarters of Game 3 of the Bucks’ Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
The @Bucks just announced that @AaronRodgers12 has bought in and is now a part owner of the franchise. The @Packers QB is here sitting courtside along with girlfriend Danica Patrick and fellow Bucks owner Wes Edens.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) April 21, 2018
With Rodgers, his girlfriend Danica Patrick and Bucks majority owner Wes Edens sitting courtside, Milwaukee beat the Celtics 116-92 to pull within 2-1 in the first-round series.
Edens and Marc Lasry are the majority owners, having purchased the team from former Sen. Herb Kohl in 2014. Rodgers is one of several limited ownership partners.
“He’s a legendary player,” Edens told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He would be the first athlete that’s currently active in the league that would own a piece of a major sports franchise.”
Aaron Rodgers announced as part owner of Bucks at game vs. Celtics 👏 https://t.co/hNQQcTBqYz pic.twitter.com/7aWwSN3GL8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 21, 2018
Rodgers, a longtime NBA fan, called it a “dream come true.”
“I have proudly called Wisconsin my home for the past 13 years, and I am thankful for the friendships and the opportunities I have been given to live and play here,” Rodgers said in a statement released by the Bucks.
“I am excited and honored to deepen my connection to the region by joining Wes Edens, Marc Lasry, Jamie Dinan, Mike Fascitelli and the ownership group of the Milwaukee Bucks. As a huge fan of the NBA and the sport of basketball, this is a dream come true for me, and I look forward to furthering my affinity for Wisconsin sports as a minority owner in a team I love and support,” he added.
After the game, Rodgers, in an interview with Fox Sports Wisconsin, said the deal has been in the works for a while. In fact, Lasry was interviewed about it in 2014 by WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee.
Speaking to Fox Sports Wisconsin, Rodgers said it was too good to pass up.
“I’m a humongous sports fan, especially NBA. Basketball was my first love, actually, before football,” he said. “The opportunity to join the ownership group here in a state that I love, a region I’m entrenched in and have been for a number of years, for a team that I’ve followed and cheered for and attended games at for a long time … to be able to be a minority owner here is pretty special.”
One of the most attractive aspects of the deal is to have this tie to the region he loves.
Photos: Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick at Bucks-Celtics, Game 3 https://t.co/6oOLulbvac pic.twitter.com/ADQWimAsEM
— JSOnline – Packers (@js_packers) April 21, 2018
“I’ve lived here for 13 years. I love this state, I love the region. I’d love to finish my career here and to also have this opportunity to have this connection that brings me back, not just, obviously, for my time with Green Bay, but to show my love and support for the rest of the region and our team in Milwaukee … It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said the Packers quarterback.
He’s excited about the Bucks’ future.
“We have an absolute superstar in Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. He’s a top three player in the league, in my opinion. Khris [Middleton] has been incredible in this playoffs. We have the reigning Rookie of the Year [Malcolm Brogdon],” said Rodgers. “I think things are definitely looking up for the Milwaukee Bucks.”
Rodgers will likely be courtside Sunday when the Bucks will try to even up the best-of-seven series.
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