The Minnesota Timberwolves might finally become a legit threat in the West, but behind the scenes? It’s been a drama-filled mess. From billionaire handshakes to legal disputes, the fight for control of the team has been anything but smooth. Enter Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, who are stepping in to take over from Glen Taylor. Taylor’s been in charge since the ‘90s, but now he’s on his way out—sort of. So, let’s break down the ownership drama, because it’s way more complicated than a basic box score.

Who are the current owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves?

So here’s the deal: Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have an agreement to take over the Timberwolves from Glen Taylor, who’s been running things for decades. Back in 2021, A-Rod and Lore made a deal to buy a controlling stake in the team in a three-part sale. The first two tranches, totaling 36% of the teams, changed hands for about $500 million as planned. But in March 2024, Taylor called off the sale, claiming Lore and Rodriguez breached the terms of the agreement and missed a deadline to finalize the deal. That kicked off a legal back-and-forth. Eventually, an arbitration panel sided with A-Rod and Lore, giving them the green light to finalize the purchase by April 2025 for $1.5 billion.

Now that everything’s (almost everything) cleared up, it’s just a matter of waiting for the NBA Board of Governors to give their official stamp of approval. But here’s the kicker: A-Rod and Lore aren’t just taking the Timberwolves—they’re also picking up the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA team. So, when this all goes down, it’ll mark the end of Taylor’s reign and the beginning of a brand-new era. It’s been a messy road, but hopefully the future is brighter for the Timberwolves.

Who is Alex Rodriguez? Why did he buy the Timberwolves?

Alright, let’s talk about A-Rod—because if you don’t know who he is, you’ve probably been living under a rock. Alex Rodriguez aka A-Rod, is a former MLB superstar. And his baseball portfolio? Oh god! over his 22-season career, he was a 14-time All-Star, three-time MVP, and a World Series champion. He’s one of the best to ever play the game, also holding the MLB record for most career grand slams. And after retiring, Alex Rodriguez jumped right into the business world, running A-Rod Corp and becoming the chairman of Presidente beer.

So, why did Alex Rodriguez decide to buy the Timberwolves? Well, here’s the thing: he and Marc Lore have a vision for turning the team into a championship contender. Their goal isn’t just to be competitive for a season or two; they want to build a sustainable winners. And part of that includes possibly developing a new arena and making long-term improvements to the franchise. It’s clear they’re in it for the long haul, hoping to create a team that can eventually compete at the highest level and reach the highest limits.

Who is Marc Lore? What does he do?

Now, let’s shift gears and talk about Marc Lore. Yeah, that guy. Marc Lore has a resume that makes you wonder if there’s anything he can’t do. The man’s an entrepreneur, investor, and NBA team franchise owner, so you know he’s got the business chops. He’s the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Wonder Group, which sounds cool, but probably means way more than we can grasp right now.

Before all that, he was running the show at Walmart U.S. eCommerce from 2016 to 2021. You know, just casually overseeing one of the biggest retail giants’ online operations. But Lore’s real claim to fame? He sold his e-commerce company, Jet.com, to Walmart in 2016 for a cool $3.3 billion. Now, he’s taking his business acumen and putting it to work in the NBA, looking to turn the Timberwolves into the next big thing.

When did Glen Taylor purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves?

And finally, let’s not forget about Glen Taylor. He’s been running the show in Minnesota for what feels like forever. Taylor scooped up majority ownership of the Timberwolves in 1994 for a reported $94 million, which back then probably felt like a solid deal. Then, in 1999, he decided to double down and bought the Minnesota Lynx, too. At least he got something right—those Lynx went on to win four WNBA titles. Meanwhile, the Wolves? Well, they’ve got a whole lot of “almosts” and “could’ve-beens.” Despite a solid 14-season playoff drought (2004–2018), they couldn’t even make it to a single NBA Finals under his watch. Talk about a rollercoaster ride, minus the fun parts.

So, there you have it—the Timberwolves’ ownership saga in a nutshell. A-Rod and Marc Lore are on the verge of taking the reins, and while the road to ownership has been anything but smooth, they’ve got big plans for Minnesota’s future. Whether they’ll finally turn the Wolves into a contender or end up as another “could’ve been” story remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: when the dust settles, the Timberwolves will have a new chapter to write. And with that kind of firepower backing them, you’ve got to think the next phase of this team could get real interesting.