NEW YORK - Robert Johnson, the billionaire founder of Black Entertainment Television, has been chosen to own Charlotte's new NBA franchise, according to published reports.
The Charlotte Observer reported that Johnson, 56, will be introduced at a news conference today at the NBA Store in midtown Manhattan. The Associated Press and Bloomberg News were among other news organizations that reported that the league's expansion committee chose Johnson over a group that included Hall of Famer Larry Bird, sources told The Observer.
That will make Johnson the first black majority owner in major North American sports. He couldn't be reached last night to comment.
Johnson will pay a $300 million expansion fee to the NBA. He has said he's prepared to own anywhere from 51 percent of the franchise to all of it.
Both groups made hourlong presentations Monday to the NBA's expansion committee. The league's 29 teams will vote on the matter next month, but that's considered a formality.
In his presentation Monday, the Washington-based Johnson emphasized his business acumen - turning a $15,000 loan into the $3 billion BET enterprise.
Johnson told NBA owners they shouldn't give him a team because of his race. But he added that if he is qualified by all other standards, then it was incumbent on the NBA to consider the value of diversity - particularly in a league in which about 85 percent of the players are black.
This is not the first African-American ownership in the league's history. Bertram Lee and Peter Bynoe briefly owned the Denver Nuggets, but their group was underfunded and sold out to a corporate entity.
The team will replace the Hornets, who moved to New Orleans, and start play in 2004.
"I think Bob will do well," said Washington Wizards forward Michael Jordan, a North Carolina native. "He's willing to fork over the money to make sure that he builds a team solidly and he has a great fan base."
Jordan and Johnson are friends, raising the possibility that Johnson might be tempted to lure Jordan to the new team if Jordan chooses not to buy back his ownership stake in the Wizards. Jordan has said he won't play after this season, his second with the Wizards.
Sun staff writer Milton Kent contributed to this article.