The ball doesn’t stop rolling for Kevin Durant just because his Brooklyn Nets had a setback in the post-season. Durant and his partner, Rich Kleiman of Thirty Five Ventures, have added to their business portfolio by becoming minority investors in the New York City area soccer club Gotham FC.
The two have joined as minority investors of the club. According to the club, since March, Thirty Five Ventures has been the third group of investors to stake in the franchise.
“As a New York-based company, the opportunity for us to partner with a forward-thinking team like Gotham FC was a no brainer,” said 35V co-founder Rich Kleiman in a statement. “There’s been so much growth in the NWSL in recent years, and the chance to be a part of that growth and work directly with the Gotham FC executive team and players is really exciting.”
Image Credit: Gotham FC
The KD Approach
In the greatest of adversity, KD has always had a balanced approach to life and continues to win championship rings with his business endeavors, philanthropy, and mass media offerings.
The investment includes additional partnership elements such as content creation, social media support, player relations, and community outreach.
The announcement follows 35V’s previous partnerships in women’s sports, including investment in Just Women’s Sports media network and a strategic partnership with pro sports league Athletes Unlimited.
Durant and Kleiman serve as board members for the sports league.
Secondary Soccer Layer
However, the move is not the company’s first foray into soccer. After acquiring an ownership stake in Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, a professional soccer team, the two also invested in Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union in June 2020.
“Bringing in Kevin, Rich, and 35V as investors is a huge statement about the positive trajectory of our club,” said Tammy Murphy, Club Chair, Gotham FC.
“The level of enthusiasm they’ve displayed has been above and beyond anything we could have anticipated. We have tremendous aspirations this year both on and off the field and, together with 35V’s support and resources, we’re going to make sure New Jersey and New York hear all about it!”
The Talented Mr. Durant
Off the court, Durant has a revolving carousel of entrepreneurial moves.
Through Thirty Five Ventures, Durant and Kleiman’s existing business entities include the NBA star’s personal brand/marketing portfolio, on-court contracts, and diverse investment portfolios.
Additionally, Durant has The Boardroom, a multi-channel sports business network distributed in partnership with ESPN. Some of his media projects have included the award-winning Fox Sports documentary “Q Ball,” the original basketball-themed scripted series “SWAGGER,” on Apple TV+, and the insider’s look at Prince George’s County, Maryland’s basketball lineage with the documentary “In The Water” with Showtime.
Invested
Durant also boasts an investment portfolio that includes businesses such as Overtime, Postmates, Acorns, Rubrik, and an equity partnership with premium audio company Master & Dynamic.
Gotham FC will host its first home match of the 2022 season at Red Bull Arena on May 14 against Brazilian superstar Debinha and the North Carolina Courage.
Although Durant and his Nets didn’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs and are still gelling as their team evolves, KD keeps his eyes on the financial prize at a pivotal time in his career.
