Ex-Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca offers heartfelt farewell following team sale

After Boston Basketball Partners LLC announced their decision to sell controlling ownership of the Boston Celtics last summer, then co-owner Steve Pagliuca made a bid to serve as the historic franchise's majority owner.

This play was unsuccessful, as Georgetown, Massachusetts native Bill Chisholm is now officially in charge. Pagliuca was gracious in defeat though, putting out an official statement on Tuesday, August 19 that began by congratulating Chisholm and the rest of his investor group and ended with an expression of gratitude for fellow owner Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and other key members of the organization.

"Congratulations to Bill Chisholm and the many new and current investors on the closing of the Celtics transaction today," Pagliuca wrote. "It is a fantastic group of leaders, and they will be excellent stewards of the franchise going forward."

Pagliuca also detailed what's next for him since he's no longer directly tied to the team outside of a temporary and familial investment interest that'll last for the next three years. "As this chapter closes, I'II now take on a different role — as a superfan who will spend more time with my family, and in the sun at my home in Florida, while cheering for the team from afar," he stated.

Although Pagliuca's time with the Celtics is coming to a close, he's not leaving Boston basketball behind. In fact, the 70-year-old has an investment group of his own that's attempting to purchase the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and bring them to Beantown.

Whether or not this sale goes through remains to be seen, but no matter what, Pagliuca seems intent on promoting hoops in New England.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Ex-Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca prepares for what's next after sale