Mario Ho has successfully completed his bid to become a co-owner of the Boston Celtics, the NBA team with the most championship titles in league history. The announcement has generated significant discussion in sports circles and among fans worldwide.

On August 20th Beijing time, the Celtics officially announced that an investment group led by William Chism completed the acquisition of a majority stake in the team following unanimous approval from the NBA Board of Directors. This marks the official change of ownership for the storied franchise.

The Chism investment group is led by Boston Celtics co-owners and board members, including Grousbeck, Mittal, Bruce Beer, Andrew Bialecki, Dom Ferrante, Rob Hale, Mario Ho, and Ian Loring.

In an interview with Tencent Sports, Ho described this investment opportunity as rare and exceptional. He expressed that transitioning from fan to stakeholder brings greater involvement and responsibility, hoping the team can achieve even more success. He believes the Celtics have significant room for growth in the Chinese market, both in terms of commercial value and fan base.

Ho also commented on Yang Hansen's NBA selection, calling it a major encouragement for young Chinese players. In June, during the 2025 NBA Draft, Chinese player Yang Hansen was selected 16th overall in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming the ninth Chinese player drafted in NBA history after Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.

Entry into NBA team management requires rigorous background checks by the league and unanimous approval from the other 29 team owners, demonstrating the significant barriers to entry. Against this backdrop, Ho's entry into NBA professional team management as a Chinese entrepreneur represents not only a landmark event in deep cooperation between Chinese investors and American professional sports systems, but also provides new opportunities for China to gain greater influence in international top-tier sporting events.

The timeline of Chinese involvement in the NBA shows growing presence: in 2002, Yao Ming entered the NBA as the number one draft pick, becoming an ambassador for China-US basketball exchange; in 2019, Joe Tsai acquired the Brooklyn Nets, further enhancing Chinese influence in the NBA; now, with new generation Chinese players like Yang Hansen and Zeng Fanbo making their mark in the NBA, and Ho becoming a co-owner of the Celtics, more Chinese faces are establishing positions within the NBA.

Ho is the son of Macau gaming magnate Stanley Ho and graduated from MIT. During his studies in the US, Ho was already a Celtics fan and has frequently posted Celtics-related content on social media, with Jaylen Brown being his favorite player.

Currently, Ho has business interests spanning esports, hospitality, and commercial services. He is associated with eight companies, six of which remain active, including Wuhan Xingwei Shengshi Network Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Shangyou Network Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Huanju Commercial Management Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Rujing Player Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

Ho's investment in the Celtics clearly targets the enormous commercial value of this prestigious franchise. Founded in 1946, the Celtics are the most successful NBA team with 18 NBA championships and over 40 Hall of Fame members. Over the past 23 years under Grousbeck's leadership, the Celtics have won two NBA championships and consistently ranked among the league's best-operated teams.

In March this year, the Celtics announced that Chism, managing partner of a software technology group, would acquire the team at a $6.1 billion valuation, setting a record for the highest team transaction price in North American sports history. Chism, who grew up in Boston suburbs, is also a devoted Celtics fan. Upon completion of the acquisition, Chism will serve as board chairman, with Grousbeck and Aditya Mittal serving as vice chairmen. Grousbeck will continue as team CEO until 2028.