Down the road, Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant could become an NBA owner, as he is reportedly showing interest in the possibility.
Durant is not the only high-profile NBA player to express interest in eventually owning a team, and the league already features Michael Jordan as the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets. However, Durant has apparently made his desire more well known since joining the Warriors prior to the 2016-17 season.
According to a report from ESPN, Durant and his business partner have spent the past year and a half meeting with key individuals to learn more about the possibility:
Over the past year and a half, sources say Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman have taken numerous meetings with existing owners and tech CEOs to learn the lay of the land.
The two have made a concerted effort of strategically positioning themselves in front of some of the most influential and innovative business figures in the Bay Area. They were guest speakers at the annual TechCrunch Disrupt, a large startup conference that took place in San Francisco last fall.
Durant has serious intentions of purchasing an NBA team after his playing career, league sources told ESPN. One source, who requested anonymity, says “this is a genuine goal of his after he retires, to add another African-American in the position of majority ownership.”
At this point, Durant does have some investments in the tech industry, including those in Rubrik, Overtime, and a few others. If he does eventually become an owner, Durant would not be the first former high-profile athlete to assume ownership of a team in his sport. Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is now serving as CEO of the Miami Marlins, while David Beckham is heavily involved in a push to bring an MLS expansion franchise to Miami.
