​Jerry Colangelo may still have an active role in the NBA, as a new report suggests he is stepping back into major league basketball ambitions. A press release from his group indicates that the former owner of the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks has joined a consortium that intends to pursue an expansion franchise in Las Vegas. The release describes a lineup of prominent figures surrounding Colangelo, including former NBA coach and executive Vinny Del Negro, sports executive David Levy, Scott Colangelo (no family relation to Jerry), Jonathan Thomas, and ESPN analyst Jay Williams, all positioned to help drive the bid forward.
The group’s statement also highlights the financial architecture intended to underpin the venture. BTIG and U.S. Bank will serve as institutional financial partners, providing capital markets expertise and rigorous advisory support necessary to execute a comprehensive franchise acquisition and development strategy. Global Leisure Partners is noted as part of the constellation of supporters, reinforcing the coalition’s capacity to manage a complex process that blends ownership, financing, development, and ongoing operations.
In the release, Jerry Colangelo offered his perspective on the ever-evolving landscape of professional basketball and the opportunity presented by Las Vegas. He explained that the sport has grown into a truly global phenomenon, evidenced by the fact that the five most valuable MVP vote-getters in recent years have all been born outside the United States. Colangelo said the international expansion of the game has driven unprecedented growth, and he expressed strong enthusiasm for the project and for what he described as a shared vision with Jack Colangelo—though it’s important to note that Jack and Jerry are not known to be direct business partners in this context beyond the stated collaboration in this bid. Colangelo emphasized the group’s dedication to delivering the best possible proposal and final product to Las Vegas, aiming to benefit the league, its owners, and its fans.
Vinny Del Negro added his own remarks about the leadership and strategic direction of the Las Vegas bid. He asserted that the assembly possesses a distinctive combination of leadership and a forward-looking plan for making Las Vegas a global hub for basketball events. Del Negro suggested that the group’s track record and the caliber of the team involved would be hard to match by any other contender, reinforcing the confidence that Las Vegas could reach a level of success that is unrivaled by rival proposals.
According to the release, a Las Vegas NBA franchise could initially play its home games at T-Mobile Arena while a new, purpose-built arena is developed. The arrangement would enable the team to commence competition in a temporary home stadium as the city works toward constructing a dedicated venue designed to accommodate the team in the long term. The plan underscores a broader strategy to anchor Las Vegas as a perennial host for national and international basketball showcases, including major events that draw fans from around the world.
The report also notes that the story is developing and that updates would follow as more details come to light. The information originated with a report on the Arizona Republic, which highlighted Colangelo’s involvement in a bid to secure an NBA expansion franchise for Las Vegas. The narrative reflects a growing interest in expanding the NBA’s footprint into markets that can sustain large, engaged fan bases and that offer compelling economic opportunities for team ownership groups, sponsors, and the league itself.
In summary, Jerry Colangelo appears to be involved in a high-profile push to bring an NBA expansion team to Las Vegas, joined by an assemblage of influential figures and backed by a cadre of established financial and advisory partners. The group envisions Las Vegas as an international epicenter for basketball, and their strategy centers on leveraging strong leadership, robust capital, and a global branding approach to deliver a compelling case to the league, its owners, and the fans who would ultimately support a new Las Vegas NBA franchise. As the situation continues to unfold, more concrete milestones—such as formal league submissions, timelines for arena development, and financing approvals—are expected to be announced, shedding further light on how this ambitious bid might progress toward becoming a reality.