The Sixers Next Owner Makes Great Decisions

When rumors started swirling about the Sixers being sold to some billionaire who runs one of the world's largest private equity firms, nobody really knew much about the guy. Was he trying to revive a struggling asset? Is he a corporate raider?

Or is he the next Mark Cuban?

Well, we still don't know, but the Inquirer's Kate Fagan puts together a nice profile of Joshua Harris, despite the Sixers' next owner declining to talk for the piece.

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Fagan caught up with old Harvard Business school pals and Penn kids from his days at Wharton, all of whom seem to share the same sentiments. Joshua Harris is a smart dude, incredibly business savvy, and knows how to make great decisions. All qualities that you ostensibly want in an owner of one of your favorite sports teams.

There was one quote, however, from an old pal of Harris' that I found a bit off base, when discussing whether Harris would be using the Sixers as a personal toy.

"I can't see him using this as a toy or a status symbol or some kind of crown jewel to illustrate his success to people or to himself," Stewart said. "He's a serious businessman, and he wants to make it a serious success. Is this a toy? No. There's just no way. . . . The way to be successful in this case in the NBA is to win NBA championships. It's a very definitive and tangible goal. His track record of success would lead you to believe that that's his ambition with the team: not only to win one but win multiple."
Added Stewart: "I think [Dallas Mavericks owner] Mark Cuban treats his team as a toy, and it's his ticket into the glitz and glamour. He's on Entourage, for crying out loud. You're not going to see Josh doing that."

But are you going to see Josh holding the frickin' Larry O'Brien trophy?