016 - The Unofficial Business Biography of Kevin Durant

Welcome back to the MVP Podcast! Today, Courtney and Jimmy take a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journey of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, exploring his professional achievements, philanthropy, and strategic business ventures. Three Phases of Durant's Career: Courtney outlines three crucial phases in Durant's career, emphasizing the impact of his relationships with agents and the pivotal move to Golden State. The duo discusses the transition from high earner to wealthy and the strategic role of representation in managing business ventures. 1. Roc Nation to 35 Ventures: Insight into Durant's moves within sports management, starting at Goodwin Sports Management, moving to Roc Nation, and eventually founding 35 Ventures with Rich Kleiman in 2016. The importance of relocating to Golden State, California, in shaping Durant's entrepreneurial mindset. 2. 35 Ventures Investment Strategy: An overview of 35 Ventures and its founders, Rich Kleiman and Kevin Durant. The strategic decision to leave Roc Nation and start 35 Ventures to focus on private and public company investments, philanthropy, and media ventures. 3. Major Investments and Returns: We explore two significant investments made by 35 Ventures - Postmates and Coinbase - delving into their returns and the concept of series D investments. Insight into the varied portfolio of 35 Ventures, including investments in Weedmaps, Acorns, Jet Smarter, and Robin Hood. 4. Boardroom's Evolution: The evolution of Boardroom, from a podcast series in 2019 to a multifaceted media network intersecting sports, entertainment, business, and culture. A discussion on the influence of athletes like LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the media landscape and the trend of athletes using their platform to impact various sectors. 5. Strategic Sports Investments: We discuss the strategic investments made by 35 Ventures in pro leagues and teams, including stakes in the Philadelphia Union and Gotham FC. Emphasis on the potential of sports investments to increase business valuations and the value of attracting traffic towards assets 6. Future Billionaires and Knowledge Sharing: The duo discusses potential future billionaires among current athletes, focusing on Durant. Emphasis on the importance of knowledge sharing, asking questions, and investing in assets for long-term wealth.