Peyton Manning, his wife Ashley, and former NBA player Penny Hardaway have agreed to join a group of minority owners for the Memphis Grizzlies. The group of minority owners is said to include Justin Timberlake and a few businessmen from the Memphis area.
Prospective buyer Robert J. Pera’s purchase of the Grizzlies is pending approval by the NBA. The addition of Manning and Hardaway first was reported by The Chris Vernon Show on WMFS-FM on Thursday. Pera, owner of a California tech company, agreed to buy the Grizzlies from Michael Heisley in June for $350 million. The NBA is expected to approve the sale this month.
Pera has been lining up a group of minority owners since agreeing to the deal. J.R. Hyde, founder of AutoZone is said to be on board.
The Mannings married in Memphis in 2001. Previously Peyton played at the University of Tennessee while Ashley lived in Memphis for a time.
The Grizzlies will open their season Oct. 31 at the Los Angeles Clippers.
