Ari Emanuel, Chairman of WME, is reportedly set to purchase WME Basketball, as the company looks to navigate concerns around conflict of interest.
This acquisition will see WME Basketball become an independent venture. Emanuel will become the new owner of the basketball representation company, alongside WME’s President and COO Ben Shapiro and BDA Sports Management’s Bill Duffy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
WME Basketball was previously owned by Endeavor, which became private on March 24, 2025 after its sale to Silver Lake. The global private equity firm secured the company for around $13bn, marking one of the largest takeovers in the media and entertainment sectors.
Following the company’s shift to becoming private, stakeholders raised concerns about a conflict of interest. This relates to American businessman Michael Dell, whose family office is a capital investor in the Endeavor acquisition and also owns a stake in the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.
WME Basketball has a significant portfolio of clients, including Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
More sales to come?
A similar situation may arise again for Endeavor, as its baseball agency has also been signalled as a potential conflict of interest. Silver Lake owns Diamond Baseball Holdings, which oversees over 40 Minor League Baseball teams.
These sales are nothing new for WME. The company sold its American Football division after questions were raised about Egon Durban, Co-Chief Executive and Managing Partner at Silver Lake, holding a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. The company also opted to sell this part to a former employee, Patrick Whitesell.
Endeavor has significantly trimmed other parts of its operations. The company sold OpenBet earlier this year to a group which also includes Emanuel.
Following the sale, SBC News spoke to OpenBet’s CEO, Jordan Levin, who discussed why the deal is expected to position the group to achieve its future ambitions.
“This buyout reflects our confidence in OpenBet’s future,” Levin told SBC News. “We’re excited to build on more than 25 years of strong foundations.”
