By Ian Thomas
Copyright cnbc
With Houston as the sixth city he’s played in (he was part of the Seattle Supersonics team that relocated to Oklahoma City), Durant and Kleiman said each have presented different opportunities, but that has not been at the center of the decision-making process.
“We weren’t sitting there in June going what business is there for us in Houston, as opposed to what business there would be for us in Miami,” Kleiman said.
Instead, Kleiman said, the two focus on building relationships, which can survive the shifts that come with professional sports. “There’s value in me getting to know [Houston Rockets owner] Tilman [Fertitta] and Patrick [Fertitta] and seeing what those relationships can be, just like I still have a relationship with [Brooklyn Nets owner] Joe Tsai and [Golden State Warriors owner] Joe Lacob.”
Kleiman said that Durant’s approach to showing up and delivering has translated into the business world, something that the pair took into account when meeting with companies and people in the Bay Area during his time with the Warriors, and continues to do.
“I think what Kevin has been able to do is show that there’s a different blueprint you can take, that less can be more, and that your game can speak for itself,” he said.
As for what’s next, Durant said he is aiming to play in the 2028 Olympics, but that he doesn’t “want the gift of the veteran, like come sit on the end of the bench and get you a fifth [gold medal].”
Could that future include NBA team ownership? Durant, who already owns stakes in MLS’s Philadelphia Union and a pickleball team, said the answer is “of course,” but also acknowledged how rising valuations make it “easier said than done.”
But Kleiman noted how Durant’s approach to relationships and partnerships throughout his career would lend itself well to NBA ownership.
“As private equity is diversifying these cap tables, as some of these billionaires are buying teams and the valuations are so high, you need to bring added value and strategic value to these organizations, expertise, and the ability to generate revenue in a multitude of ways,” he said. “If you’re trying to build the team you’re not going to get much better than having someone like Kevin if you’re talking about building a brand and understanding how to build community.”
