Hawks CEO: Numerous billionaires lining up to buy team

Atlanta Hawks co-owner and CEO Steve Koonin says multiple people have inquired about purchasing the franchise after controlling owner Bruce Levenson announced

Atlanta Hawks co-owner and CEO Steve Koonin says multiple people have inquired about purchasing the franchise after controlling owner Bruce Levenson announced the would sell his interest in the team.

Levenson decided to sell his controlling interest in the franchise after he self-reported a racially insensitive email sent two years ago. 

The email was sent to general manager Danny Ferry and copied to several of Levenson's partners. It discussed attendance for Hawks games and the lack of Caucasian fans.

Koonin said that Ferry will also be disciplined for his role in the situation.

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Koonin said that he was shocked that people reached out to him about buying the team. 

“I had over seven phone calls directly today from multi-billionaires,” Koonin said to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “It blew my mind some of the people who wrote me today.”

The Los Angeles Clippers recently sold for a record $2 billion last month when previous owner Donald Sterling was forced to sell after an audio recording surfaced of him making racist remarks. 

Forbes said the Hawks franchise is worth $425 million. 

- Scooby Axson