Getty
Shawn Kemp of the Seattle Supersonics and A.C. Green of the Los Angeles Lakers stand side by side during a game in the 1989-1990 NBA season at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Former Los Angeles Lakers champion A.C. Green is positioning himself for a potential return to the NBA — not as a player, but as an owner — as the league moves closer to expansion in Seattle.
Green, a key member of the Lakers’ “Showtime” era, recently expressed interest in owning a Seattle franchise just as the NBA formally begins evaluating expansion bids in Seattle and Las Vegas.
NBA Expansion Process Gains Traction
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the NBA’s Board of Governors has approved a vote to explore expansion opportunities in both Seattle and Las Vegas, with franchise valuations expected to reach $7 billion to $10 billion per team.
The league is targeting the 2028–29 season for new teams to begin play, with a follow-up vote later this year potentially finalizing expansion to 32 franchises. League executives have increasingly described expansion as “when, not if,” driven by revenue growth and market demand.
Seattle remains a leading candidate after losing the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008, when the franchise relocated to become the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Former Lakers Champion A.C. Green Expresses Ownership Interest
In an interview with Action Network’s Matt Moore earlier this month, Green made clear he wants to be part of Seattle’s potential NBA return.
“Especially if I owned them — yeah, that would be awesome,” Green said. “Being a Northwest guy, I’m biased. I’d love to see that happen, just for the sake of having basketball back in the Northwest outside of Portland.”
Green added that he remains engaged in ownership-level discussions.
“I’m always in those kinds of conversations, and I’m always interested,” he said.
A native of Portland, Oregon, and a former Oregon State standout, Green’s regional ties give him a natural connection to a Seattle franchise despite not playing for the SuperSonics.
Lakers Legacy Shapes Green’s Ownership Ambitions
(L-R) Former players A.C. Green, Kareem Abdul-Jabar and James Worthy in attendance for a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Getty(L-R) Former players A.C. Green, Kareem Abdul-Jabar and James Worthy in attendance for a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Green’s credibility in NBA circles stems largely from his decorated tenure with the Lakers.
Selected by Los Angeles with the 23rd overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft, Green became a foundational piece of the franchise’s success during the late 1980s. He won three NBA championships with the Lakers (1987, 1988, 2000) and played alongside Hall of Famers, including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.
Known for durability, Green set an NBA record by playing 1,192 consecutive games, earning the nickname “Iron Man.” He also earned an All-Star selection in 1990 and built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable role players.
That championship pedigree and long-standing reputation continue to give Green credibility as a potential stakeholder in future NBA ventures.
Business Background Supports Ownership Aspirations
While Green’s estimated net worth — widely reported at around $15 million — falls short of leading a multi-billion-dollar expansion bid, his post-playing career reflects extensive business and investment experience.
Green has been involved in private equity through DPG Investments and previously owned multiple businesses, including restaurant franchises and an automotive dealership, as detailed in his speaker and business profile.
He also founded the A.C. Green Youth Foundation, which focuses on youth development and leadership programs.
Those ventures position him as a potential minority investor or strategic partner within a larger ownership group rather than a lead bidder.
Seattle Ownership Landscape Taking Shape
The leading bid for a Seattle expansion team is expected to come from the group behind Climate Pledge Arena, which includes Kraken ownership led by Samantha Holloway and Tod Leiweke.
Additional high-net-worth individuals, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, have been frequently linked as potential investors if the bidding process intensifies.
For Green, that landscape presents a potential pathway into ownership alongside established investors.