Nets superstar Kevin Durant expresses interest in Washington Commanders purchase with Jeff Bezos, Jay-Z mulling bid

The race to be the new owner of the Washington Commanders is heating up, with NBA superstar Kevin Durant the latest big name to throw his hat in the ring.

The two-time NBA champion expressed an interest in being part of the ownership group of the Washington Commanders this week.

Durant registered his interest a week after current owner Dan Snyder put out a statement saying he and his wife, Tanya Snyder, were considering "potential transactions" regarding the sale of the franchise.

🚨NEW🚨 @Commanders release statement confirming Dan Snyder selling the team, noting he and wife Tanya are considering "potential transactions" meaning partial v. full sale. Comes after Colts owner Jim Irsay reiterated owners should consider voting Snyder out of their ranks. https://t.co/a5KNgq761T

"Dan and Tanya Snyder and the Washington Commanders announced today that they have hired BofA [Bank of America] Securities to consider potential transactions," the statement read.

"The Snyders remain committed to the team, all of its employees and its countless fans to putting the best product on the field and continuing to set the gold standard for workplaces in the NFL."

Kevin Durant told ESPN this week that "in a perfect world," he would be a part of an ownership group looking to buy the franchise.

"I would love to do it. I would love to give a little bit of my money to be a part of the Commanders, but we'll see. Hopefully it's somebody nice. I heard [Amazon CEO Jeff] Bezos and Jay-Z, but you never know," he told ESPN.

Nice to see the hometown guy

@KDTrey5 🤝 @TheTerry_25 https://t.co/jEwQMEVtb4

How much will the Washington Commanders sell for?

Back in August, Forbes valued the franchise at $5.6 billion.

While the Washington Commanders aren't technically the most valuable franchise in the NFL (that prestige belongs to the Dallas Cowboys), Dan Snyder's team could become the most expensive sale in NFL history.

In August this year, the NFL approved the sale of the Denver Broncos to the Walton-Penner ownership group for $4.65 billion, making it the most expensive in league history.

However, estimates for the Washington franchise range anywhere between $5.5 billion and $7 billion.

So far, rumors have linked Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and rapper Jay-Z with an interest in the franchise.

Media mogul Byron Allen has also been credited with an interest in NFL ownership, having previously mulled a bid for the Denver Broncos. Private equity investor Joshua Harris is another name to keep an eye on for controlling ownership of the Commanders.

Washington Minority Ownership Update Currently have $400 MILLION of funds twitter.com/RGIII/status/1… https://t.co/Ibg3Z7BPj3

Former Ravens QB Robert Griffin III also publicly expressed an interest in the franchise, claiming that he already has $400 million lined up. He also added that he'd bring 10 fans "along for the ride."

Donald Trump's "favorite author" Nick Adams has also tweeted about buying the franchise, though it remains to be seen how he will move forward with bringing back their controversial name.

I am putting together an ownership group to purchase the Washington Commanders and change their name BACK to the Washington Redskins.

Updates soon to follow.

All told, however, it appears more than likely that the Washington Commanders sale will be the most expensive in league history, especially with big names like Jay-Z and Jeff Bezos aiming to become NFL owners.

Kevin Durant net worth: Can Nets star afford Washington Commanders purchase?

The two-time NBA Finals MVP has a reported net worth of $200 million. His current contract with the Nets clocks in at a reported $42 million a year.

While the Washington franchise is valued at $5.6 billion, Durant will likely look to be part of a larger ownership group.

At present, Kevin Durant is a minority owner of Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union with a 5% stake in the team. He is also a minority owner of NY/NJ Gotham FC, a women's soccer side plying its trade in the National Women's Soccer League.

Alongside these investments, he also became the co-owner of a pickleball franchise last month.