Mikhail Prokhorov says he won't sell majority interest in Nets

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov again insists he has zero interest in selling a majority stake in the franchise, maintaining there isn't a for sale sign hanging outside the team's door.

Speaking before the Nets met the Hawks at the Barclays Center Wednesday night in his first extended public comments since November, Prokhorov put the kibosh on chatter that he's looking to part ways with the team he purchased in May 2010.

While admitting he's been approached by about 10 individuals inquiring about purchasing a minority share in the Nets, the Russian billionaire reiterated he has no desire to part with his controlling interest.

"I was never intending to sell the team," said Prokhorov, who's in town to watch the Nets in action for the first time since Nov. 3. "If somebody wants to send me any kind of proposal, why not? Just to have a look. But we're only speaking about minority stakes in the team."

Reports surfaced in January detailing how Prokhorov, who paid $223 million for 80 percent of the Nets and 40 percent of their billion-dollar arena, hired Evercore Partners to aid in selling the team.

The Nets rebuffed those claims at the time, making it clear their owner was strictly gauging interest and testing the market, particularly in the wake of Steve Ballmer paying $2 billion for the Clippers.

The Nets reportedly severed ties with the investment firm in March, but further talk of a potential sale of a franchise valued by Forbes at $1.6 billion never ceased.

In fact, another report last week claimed that Prokhorov was looking to sell 49 percent of the team for $1.5 billion, a price tag reportedly being balked at by those who may be intrigued.

Prokhorov did suggest he may be in line to purchase the minority share of part of the arena he doesn't already own, but noted "for the time being nothing is on the table, and as soon as we hear if anything changes in capital structure, we'll announce it in a very open way as we usually do."

Enjoying what he's witnessed lately from his streaking Nets, who boast the league's highest payroll, Prokhorov also doesn't sound like someone preparing to tighten the grip on his wallet. Although the Nets have cut salary to avoid some of the hefty luxury taxes -- such as opting not to re-sign Paul Pierce -- Prokhorov said he's not about to change plans in the name of frugality.

"We need a championship team, and I'm very committed to continue to do all the best for the team," Prokhorov said. "This is my perception, and if we need to pay a little bit more than any other teams, it's not an obstacle."