Former NBA stars Yao Ming and Grant Hill are separately interested in purchasing the Los Angeles Clippers once the team goes on sale.
On their own, the two retired basketball players are looking to form ownership groups and put together potential bids for when the Clippers go on the market, reports ESPN.
Sources told the site that Yao is looking to make a bid with the help of Chinese investors. Reportedly the former All-Star center previously wanted to purchase the Milwaukee Bucks, but didn't want to agree to owner Herb Kohl's stipulation that the team be kept in the city. Yao already owns the Chinese basketball team Shanghai Sharks.
Bill Simmons, of Grantland, was the first to report Yao's interest in purchasing the Los Angeles team.
The news of more suitors interested in the NBA franchise comes as current owner Donald Sterling reportedly relinquished ownership to his wife Shelly Sterling for her to sell the team.
The decision came as many assumed that both husband and wife were readying for a fight to keep the team, with Donald first refusing to pay mandated $2.5 million fine following his racists comments.
Still, the NBA made it clear that the league wouldn't accept Shelly selling the team either. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said, "We continue to follow the process set forth in the NBA Constitution regarding termination of the current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers and are proceeding toward a hearing on this matter on June 3."
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