Rap superstar Jay-Z is selling his ownership stake in the NBA team the Brooklyn Nets. Jay-Z helped the Nets move this past season from New Jersey to his hometown of Brooklyn.
Jay-Z says of his decision to sell his stake in the Nets:
“Being a member of the Nets organization surpassed some of my greatest ambitions. It was never about an investment; it was about the NETS and Brooklyn. My job as an owner is over but as a fan it has just begun. I’m a Brooklyn Net forever. It’s been an honor to work with Mikhail Prokhorov, Dmitry Razumov, Christophe Charlier, ONEXIM Sports and Entertainment, Brett Yormark and all the wonderful people involved in making the Nets first class. My sincerest thanks goes to Bruce Ratner, who first introduced the idea of moving the Nets to Brooklyn. A thank you and deepest appreciation goes to the fans. You are the lifeblood of any team.”
The multi-platinum selling artists isn’t exactly giving up his sports ambitions. Earlier this month, Jay-Z partnered with sports management firm Creative Arts Agency to launch sports-representation agency Roc Nation Sports. NBA rules stipulate that a team owner can not represent professional athletes and own a stake in a league team.
Later in his statement, Jay-Z writes:
The statement continued: “The Nets have made their mark on the NBA and as they enter a new era, Roc Nation does as well; as we embark on Roc Nation Sports. Our newest endeavor is committed to building the brands of professional athletes as we have done for some of today’s top music artists. For Roc Nation Sports to function at its full potential, NBA rules stipulate that I relinquish my ownership in the Brooklyn Nets. It was a tough decision but as I stated earlier, it’s not about ownership. Congratulations to The Nets on a great season and making the playoffs! I will always be a Brooklyn Net.”
In the meantime, Roc Nation Sports recently signed its first client, New York Yankees all-star Robinson Cano.
