Kevin Durant is many things. An MVP. An All-Star. A champion. A future Hall of Famer. And now, if he has his way, we can add “Future owner of an NBA team” to this illustrious list.
From ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes:
Over the last 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 massive 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.”
Michael Jordan is currently the only African-American, and only former player, who holds the title of majority owner of an NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets.
Durant’s endeavor here is an admirable one. He’s become more outspoken about equality and other societal issues since joining the Golden State Warriors, and the NBA remains a place in which he can leave a visible dent on the discussion.
Ownership is no doubt an interest to many players as they plan their post-career ventures. For most of them, it’s out of reach. Indeed, even Durant would have a tough, if impossible, time becoming a majority owner. He isn’t worth that kind of coin. Nor is LeBron James, at the moment, who also has an interest in purchasing a team upon walking away.
HOOP IDEA: How about LeBron James and Kevin Durant pull their net worths together after they retire? That’d be a dream, and a semi-realistic one at that.
Of course, if majority ownership isn’t in the cards, Durant can always buy a minority stake. Still, based off the vibe from this report, he’s angling towards something more meaningful.
