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A prominent local family recently inquired about acquiring a majority interest in the Memphis Grizzlies from the team’s owner Robert Pera. Those conversations went nowhere. The family was told Pera has no interest in selling — or relocating — the team. Richard Smith, the FedEx executive and son of late FedEx founder Fred Smith, told The Daily Memphian Friday, Jan. 30, his family had made the overture in recent weeks.
Pablo Torre Finds Out: NEW INVESTIGATION: Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera's technology is powering Russia's drone war on Ukraine and is linked to what the UN calls "crimes against humanity," according to an undercover @hntrbrkmedia report.
Sam Koppelman: A rare investigation with *literal* receipts
A rare investigation with *literal* receipts https://t.co/PFFaePAtLG pic.twitter.com/gELwhEG2qN
— Sam Koppelman (@SammyKoppelman) January 27, 2026
“And to make this all now again a sports story — it brings us back to that NBA owner who told us, quote: 'No one knows where their sales are from.' Yeah, I told that owner, Pablo, that we now know where at least some of those sales are coming from. And the answer is Russia.”
Sources said the Grizzlies also are part of the Arctos portfolio. Robert Pera has been the control owner since 2012, when he bought the team for $377 million. Arctos’ involvement in the Grizzlies has not been previously reported. The Grizzlies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Arctos, which declined comment, also owns shares of the 76ers, Jazz, Kings and Warriors.
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Drew Hill: Breaking: Marc Gasol has announced his retirement from playing basketball, paving the way for the Grizzlies to retire his uniform, as team owner Robert Pera once promised when he was traded. ⏳ Stay tuned
The dispute, now more than a decade old, centers around how the deferred compensation liability was handled before and after Memphis Basketball (a group led by Robert Pera) purchased the team in 2012 from Hoops, a group led by Michael Heisley, who passed away in 2014. The deferred compensation stemmed from the play of Conley and Randolph in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. A three-judge panel held that under federal tax law, Hoops could only deduct deferred compensation expenses when it pays the employees or contributes to a trust, pension fund or other qualified plan.
Damichael Cole: Zach Kleiman: “We are not going to have any issue paying anyone we want to pay. … Not worried small market notions.” BIG BANK ROBERT PERA 💰💰
The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the franchise has entered into a long-term extension with Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Zach Kleiman. Per team policy, terms of the extension are not disclosed publicly. “Zach has proven to be a strong cultural leader in this organization, consistently demonstrating high-integrity, hard-work, humility and a drive for continuous improvement,” said controlling owner Robert Pera. “We have confidence in our strategy and believe it will result in an elite organization over the long-term.”
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“Zach has proven to be a strong cultural leader in this organization, consistently demonstrating high-integrity, hard-work, humility and a drive for continuous improvement,” said controlling owner Robert Pera. “We have confidence in our strategy and believe it will result in an elite organization over the long-term.”
Brian Windhorst: What if I told you that Robert Pera, when he bought the Grizzlies his stock price was at $8. And he struggled to put the deal together, he only buys 25%. It took him four months to raise the money. What if we told you that today is his stock price for Ubiquiti Networks trading at 285 and that he owns 75% and adjust in stock value. He's worth over $15 billion.
Last time we looked Memphis Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera had weathered a financial storm, moved his head office to Manhattan and watched the stock price for his startup, Ubiquiti Networks, climb into the stratosphere. Now, eight years after the reclusive young Californian bought into Memphis’ professional basketball team, he has made headlines again by spending newsworthy sums. What's he buying? Residential properties on both coasts including a design for a “medieval-like fortress” in Lower Manhattan and a posh Florida residence near entertainer Diddy have cost him over $70 million, The Wall Street Journal reported.