The 2024 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, but eyes are still on a team that was knocked out last week. The Minnesota Timberwolves are caught up in an ownership dispute that’s gone south pretty fast, after two prospective buyers attempted to finance their purchase of the team in an unconventional way. The FT’s US sports business correspondent Sara Germano breaks down how the deal came together, fell apart, and the can of worms it’s since opened about owning US sports teams.

Clips from Bleacher Report, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, KARE 11, House of Highlights, The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

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For further reading:

The off-the-court fight for one of the NBA’s hottest teams

Private equity gears up for potential National Football League investments

Michael Jordan agrees to sell majority stake in NBA’s Charlotte Hornets

Mark Cuban’s Mavericks bet

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On X, follow Sara Germano (@germanotes) and Saffeya Ahmed (@saffeya_ahmed).

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Can anyone afford an NBA team? 23:28 Share

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Can anyone afford an NBA team?