June 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Nicole Curran (left), NBA former player Magic Johnson (center), and Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob (right) smile during the second quarter in game one of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-100 in overtime for a 1-0 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Something big just changed for the Commanders, again

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By David Harrison | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 9:00 AM ET

The sale of the Washington Commanders to an ownership group led by Josh Harris that also includes, among others, NBA legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson has been celebrated for several reasons.

For those who have emotional ties to the Commanders franchise, it marked the beginning of a turnaround that led to an appearance in the NFC Championship Game in just two years under new ownership.

However, for the NFL and the pro sports world at large, the $6.05 million purchase price for the franchise is the biggest in league history. In fact, the sale of Washington to Harris and his group was the biggest in *North American sports history, at least until the NBA's Boston Celtics were sold just this March for $6.1 billion, a mark that has now been eclipsed just months later.

"BREAKING: The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, sources tell ESPN. Jeanie Buss will continue to serve in her role as Governor after the sale," ESPN's Chams Charania reported this week. The purchase price? $10 billion.

The sale of the legendary NBA franchise now ranks as the most lucrative in sports history pushing the Celtics to second, a fun coincidence for the Lakers, and the Commanders to third.

In the spirit of high tides raising all ships, the sports world as a whole is likely celebrating the deal, as it will mark a comparative point when other franchise sales are executed in the future.

*all references to historic sales rankings are North American ranks