Marc Lasry has sold his share of the Milwaukee Bucks

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 24 (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 24 (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Rumors had been swirling for months that Marc Lasry could sell his stake in the Milwaukee Bucks very soon, and that day has arrived.

Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Lasry has sold his share of the Bucks to Jimmy Haslam and the Haslam Sports Group for a $3.5 billion valuation. Haslam has been linked to the team since the rumors started and has been in attendance for several Bucks games as of late. This move seemed inevitable.

According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, that $3.5 billion valuation is the second most ever for an NBA franchise ever, trailing only Mat Ishbia’s deal for the Phoenix Suns earlier this year. This is also the third-highest for an American sports team; only the newly purchased Denver Broncos are higher.

Marc Lasry has sold his share of the Milwaukee Bucks

Lasry was named co-owner of the Bucks alongside Wes Edens after purchasing the team from the great Herb Kohl in 2014. In that timeframe, the Bucks rose back to relevancy and have turned into one of the NBA’s premier teams, having won a championship in 2021. It was a great run for Lasry.

New ownership at such a pivotal time for the franchise has justifiably made plenty of fans uneasy. Both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are potentially heading to free agency this summer, and the Bucks clearly would like to keep them both around. Will a new co-owner feel the same way? How about Milwaukee’s impending luxury tax bill, which is set to be among the highest in the NBA? Is Haslam willing to spend to keep this team in contention? These questions linger. One would think Haslam understands where the Bucks are at and will do what it takes to keep them there.

For now, not much will change in Milwaukee. The Bucks remain focused on winning another title and will keep their foot on the gas in their pursuit of the Eastern Conference’s top seed; they are half of a game back currently. It will be interesting to see what the Jimmy Haslam era has in store.

Congratulations to Marc Lasry for a great tenure that lasted nearly a decade with the Bucks.