ジョーダン氏、ホーネッツの株式売却完了　球団を「誇りに思う」

【ニューヨークＡＦＰ＝時事】米プロバスケットボール（ＮＢＡ）のレジェンド、マイケル・ジョーダン氏は３日、シャーロット・ホーネッツの株式売却がＮＢＡ理事会で承認されたことにより、同球団の筆頭オーナーの座を正式に退いた。（写真は米ＮＢＡ、シャーロット・ホーネッツのロゴ）
　売却先は「トールウッズ・キャピタル」社のゲイブ・プロトキン最高投資責任者（ＣＩＯ）と「クレイトン、ダビリアー＆ライス」社のリック・シュナール共同社長が主導するグループ。
　ホーネッツは、同グループに「即座に球団の支配権が与えられる」と発表した。
　今後もホーネッツの少数株式を保有するジョーダン氏は、「この１３年間、自分の地元であるノースカロライナ州でシャーロット・ホーネッツの筆頭オーナーを務める機会を得られて、本当に光栄だった」と述べた。
　「コート上でのエキサイティングな瞬間、ホーネッツの球団名の復活、シャーロットでの２０１９年のオールスターゲーム開催、ホーネッツ・スポーツ＆エンターテインメントがこのコミュニティーの真の柱になったことなど、この組織が成し遂げた全てを誇りに思う」
　「この間のホーネッツファンの揺るぎないコミットメント、情熱、忠誠心は素晴らしいものだった。少数株主に移行するに当たり、ゲイブとリックという成功者で、革新的かつ戦略的なリーダーにチームの手綱を渡すことができてうれしい」
　ジョーダン氏は、現役時代に通算６度のＮＢＡファイナル制覇と通算５度のシーズン最優秀選手（ＭＶＰ）選出に加え、２個の五輪金メダルを獲得するなどし、史上最高のバスケットボール選手との呼び声が高い。
　しかしながら、オーナーとしては現役時代ほどの成功を収められず、在任１３年間でプレーオフ進出は３回にとどまり、いずれも１回戦で敗退。昨季もチームは２７勝５５敗と低迷し、イースタンカンファレンスで下から２番目の１４位に沈んだ。 【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/08/04-16:25）

NBA legend Michael Jordan's tenure as a majority owner in the league officially ended Thursday as the sale of his stake of the Charlotte Hornets was approved by league governors.
The purchasing group is led by Gabe Plotkin, chief investment officer at Tallwoods Capital LLC, and Rick Schnall, co-president of private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
The sale, which has been approved by the NBA Board of Governors, immediately gives Plotkin and Schnall the controlling interest in the franchise, the Hornets said in a statement.
Plotkin and Schnall said they would serve as co-chairmen of Hornets Sports and Entertainment and will rotate the team's governorship every five years, beginning with Schnall.
The deal, first announced in June, reportedly valued the Hornets at $3 billion.
Jordan acquired a controlling investment in the Hornets in 2010 for $275 million. The franchise had been the league's sole team with Black-majority ownership.
Jordan, who retained a minority stake in the franchise, said in a statement he was grateful to have the chance to guide the team for more than a decade.
The opportunity to be the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets in my home state of North Carolina for the last 13 years has been a tremendous honor, Jordan said.
I'm proud of all that the organization accomplished: the exciting on-court moments, the return of the Hornets name, Charlotte hosting the 2019 NBA All-Star Game and HSE becoming a true pillar of this Community.
Through the years, the unwavering commitment, passion and loyalty of our Hornets fans has been incredible. As I transition into a minority ownership role, I'm thrilled to be able to pass the reins to two successful, innovative and strategic leaders in Gabe and Rick.
Often considered the greatest-ever basketball player, Jordan led teams to six NBA titles, won the league's Most Valuable Player award five times and garnered two Olympic gold medals. He played his last game professionally in 2003.
However, Jordan's tenure as an owner was less successful.
During his 13-year reign, Charlotte reached the playoffs just three times, losing in the first round on all three occasions.
Last season, Charlotte finished one place off the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 27-55.
Schnall and Plotkin said in their joint statement that they hope to build on the stability that Jordan brought to the franchise.
We're excited about the organization's future, they said. Our vision is to take the Hornets to the next level both on and off the court.