How Kevin Durant is becoming the biggest tech investor in the NBA

When Kevin Durant announced his decision to leave the OKC Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2016, people immediately marked them as the team to beat.

But since winning his first championship and adding a Finals MVP to his already impressive resume, KD has showed the world that his decision was more than just about basketball.

Durant’s move to Golden State not only positioned him for multiple rings, but also supplanted him in Silicon Valley, the heart of the burgeoning tech scene. With the help of his business partner Rich Kleiman, KD has established himself as a serious investor.

While they did start the Durant Company, a venture capitalist firm for investing in companies they believe in before KD’s transition to Oakland, there’s no denying the business influence his “basketball decision” has had.

Even his teammates Steph Curry and Andre Iguodala have taken full advantage of the tech-savvy environment, bursting onto the scene as notable investors.

Since 2015, Durant has made waves as a full-time professional baller and part-time investor. Funneling his money into companies like Postmates and The Players Tribune, Durant has pivoted as a businessman, expanding his portfolio to the likes of JetSmarter and Overtime, a startup that focuses on up-and-coming high school ballers.

But even before his executive decision to dawn a Warriors jersey, Durant utilized his basketball talents and the NBA spotlight to become one of the most marketable players in the NBA; sponsorships with Nike, Beats, 2K, and BBVA banking prove that.

Having created a formidable reputation, companies on the rise should keep an eye out for Durant as a potential investor.

Now, as he navigates the shark-infested waters of the cut-throat business industry, KD is determined to be the best professional-baller-turned-investor the world has ever seen.