Bobby Sharma


Bobby Sharma is an Indian-American investor. He is a former executive and attorney, including at the National Basketball Association where he helped build the NBA G-league, and is currently the founder and managing partner of private equity firm Bluestone Equity Partners.

Early life and education

Sharma graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree and earned a juris doctor degree from Duke Law School.

Career

National Basketball Association (NBA) (2002-11)

Sharma worked as an executive and attorney for the National Basketball Association from 2002 to 2011. While there, he helped lead the creation of the NBA’s first minor league, initially called the NBA Development League, now known as the G-League. He worked with commissioners David Stern and Adam Silver throughout his tenure at the NBA and oversaw the G-League growing from 6 regional teams in the southeast, to 16 teams across the United States.

IMG & Investment (2011-23)

In 2011, Sharma took on an executive role with IMG Worldwide, as senior vice president, global head of basketball & strategic initiatives. He was tasked with building professional sports leagues in international markets, starting with a basketball league in India after IMG acquired commercial rights to the sport in the country for 30 years. Sharma considered India as the "largest untapped basketball market in the world. At IMG Sharma worked alongside famed investor Ted Forstmann, building sports leagues in other international markets including Brazil, Nigeria and China, with sports such as basketball, soccer, and cricket.

Bluestone Equity Partners (2023-present)

In 2023, Sharma founded Bluestone Equity Partners, a private equity firm. The New York City-based firm focuses on deals in the sports, media & entertainment industry. Sharma built the firm based on experience and relationships in both the sports and finance industries, including hiring investors from firms such as Blackstone and Apollo Global.
Bluestone bought a $30 million stake in PMY Group, which designs and manages digital scoreboards, lighting, and acoustics at sports and entertainment venues. In 2024, the company invested in Volo Sports and RWS Global.