BET Holdings Inc. has inquired about purchasing a financial stake in the minor-league Continental Basketball Association.
BET chairman Robert Johnson met recently with the National Basketball Association's players' union, the NBA Players Association, to explore opportunities to purchase the nine-team league, according to reports.
Basketball hall-of-famer Isiah Thomas currently owns the CBA, but the union has been negotiating with Thomas to purchase the entity, which is the NBA's official developmental league.
Thomas, who was recently named head coach of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, must sell the league to avoid a conflict of interest.
Sources said Johnson might look to partner with the players association to purchase the league, and then televise its games on BET. If the union is unable to reach an accord with Thomas, sources said, Johnson may be interested in purchasing the league outright.
BET vice president of corporate communications Michael Llewellen would not comment on any potential BET-CBA deal, but said that BET is interested in adding some league games to its programming lineup.
A spokesman from the CBA said that any BET purchase is "speculation," and added that the league has signed a letter of intent with the players' union.
Representatives from the union could not be reached.
