The Russian invasion into the sports industry has finally crossed the Atlantic. After buying the famed Chelsea and Arsenal soccer clubs, the Russians are approaching the sacred American ground - the NBA. It has been reported that Mikhail Prokhorov, the 6-foot-9 Russia's richest man is buying the Nets.

According to the Sport Illustrated columnist Ian Thomsen, Prokhorov is leading the group of the potential buyers. of the team and the negotiations are going well. According to sports.ru, a Russian-language online newspaper, Prokhorov has been planning to buy an NBA team for at least two years. "The oligarch prefers to buy an East Coast team, because of easier commute from Moscow, and preferably in a city where there is a lot of Russians," - writes Sports.ru.

One could say that if Prokhorov wants an easy commute and a lot of Russians around, he should buy a basketball team in Moscow. So he did. The businessman, who is listed by Forbes as the 24th richest man in the world with $9.5 billion, has been financing the Euroleague champion CSKA and other sports clubs and federations. And now he is eying the New Jersey basketball team.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Mikhail Prokhorov offered to buy Forbes, but the magazine viciously denied the rumor. This time we hope it's true. We'd like him to come to the States occasionally -- we know Mikhail is a lot of fun.

Draft Edition [Sports Illustrated]

Prokhorov is Buying Basketball Team in the US [Sports.ru]

Vice police spoil the party for the billionaire and his 'good-time girls' [The Times]