The Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant is the focus of speculation that he may seek to join another NBA team. Some media types have him going to the New York Knicks, while others say the Los Angeles Clippers. And the reasons for the move also encompass the idea that his business is not in the San Francisco Bay Area. They’re wrong, because since Kevin Durant moved to the Oakland, he has become a venture capitalist, with an investment firm located in that city.
Kevin Durant has joined a growing group of professional athletes who have become venture capitalist. And if you’re wondering are they the same kind of venture capitalist who’s investments give rise to the next Facebook, you would be correct. Kevin Durant and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, join sports legends like former San Francisco 49ers Quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young, former tight end Brent Jones, tennis great Serena Williams, L.A. Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, former San Francisco 49ers running back Tommy Vardell, L.A. Lakers Star LeBron James, as new venture capitalists.
Indeed, the Golden State Warriors team has several star players that, together, make up a formidable investment group: Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Steph Curry all have various levels of investment in a number of businesses, most notably tech startups.
Kevin Durant’s Thirty-Five Ventures, Aaron Rogers Rx3 Ventures, Serena Williams’ Serena Ventures Some Athlete’s VC Firm Examples
Thirty-Five Ventures is Kevin Durant’s Oakland-based venture capital firm that holds investments in notable startup firms like Coinbase and Hooked. Aaron Rogers Rx3 Ventures is based on a $50 million investment fund that has exposure in six firms to date.
And LeBron James’ move to L.A. may have been to keep an eye on his very successful company, the gourmet pizza chain Blaze Pizza, as much as it was to join the Lakers. Blaze is reportedly eying a path to an IPO, and an objective of 500 retail franchise stores.
According to Crunchbase (where this author Zennie Abraham or Zenophon Abraham is listed as a tech entrepreneur), Kevin Durant’s invested $15 million in “Hooked”, a new media video company based in San Francisco, not far from Thirty-Five Ventures. Hooked says its “redefining entertainment for the Snapchat generation.”
The Tech Venture Capitalists Of The Future Are The Pro Athletes Of Today
So don’t be surprised of Kevin Durant elects to work a deal with fellow venture capitalist and Golden State Warriors Managing Partner Joe Lacob and stay in the SF Bay Area – all the better to keep an eye on Hooked. Durant, Rogers, Williams, Montana, and many more professional athletes of today are the venture capitalists of tomorrow. And by tomorrow, meaning, literally, the next day.
Stay tuned.