Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant appears to be making a strategic move toward NBA ownership in Europe.
The 16-time NBA All-Star purchased a minority stake in 2025 UEFA Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain on June 21, months after meeting PSG president and chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The soccer giant’s ownership group is “positively and actively” preparing a bid for an NBA Europe franchise, L’Equipe reported in March. NBA Europe is expected to debut during the 2027-28 season. If PSG lands a basketball franchise, Durant could have a vested interest.
“Hell yeah, I’d be interested,” Durant told Andscape in December. “We never had NBA Europe before. So, to potentially connect the NBA to the rest of the world, that would be monumental. That would be some big-time s‑‑‑ to combine both leagues like that. For the NBA to be a 24/7 global market, that would be incredible. I’ve heard talks about it. …
“I’d want to be a part of it, helping any way I can to leave an imprint in a city like Paris, represent the NBA, represent basketball. But we will see what happens. [NBA commissioner] Adam [Silver] has so many ideas. His brain is probably swamped with s‑‑‑. We will see.”
Tonight, Durant and his Rockets are at home in dire need of a win, down 2-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA Europe is projected to have 12 permanent teams and four additional annually qualified squads during the 2027-28 season. The NBA is reportedly seeking franchise entry fees ranging from $500 million to $1 billion for NBA Europe, according to Sports Business Journal.
Like Durant, James also has ownership in a soccer franchise that could potentially add a team in NBA Europe. Liverpool FC reportedly has interest in buying an NBA Europe franchise, according to City AM, and James has an ownership stake in the club. Tony Parker, the former San Antonio Spurs star and current president of French basketball club A LDLC ASVEL, is actively positioning his club to join in NBA Europe as well.
“I haven’t heard much on it. There are rumors, like there has always been,” Durant told Andscape on April 6 when asked the latest he’s heard about PSG and NBA Europe. “A lot of s‑‑‑ can happen quick. I don’t know for a fact. I’m just hearing stuff from articles and narratives. I haven’t heard anything too concrete, but we will see.”
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NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said in an April 1 statement that the NBA and FIBA plan to begin reviewing bids from potential teams and investors of permanent teams in Europe. Durant told Andscape that being part of NBA Europe through PSG was “in the cards” when he became a minority owner.
“When we were out there for the Olympics, I went to the PSG headquarters,” said Durant, who played on USA Basketball’s 2024 Olympic gold medal team. “We had a mutual friend that introduced us, and Nasser and me just built from there. This was in the cards. This was in play, PSG Basketball. They want more of an imprint in the United States. They want more of their brand recognized more around the world, not just in Europe. Mainly in the United States.
“I haven’t had any real in-depth talk with anyone about it. It’s just background noise right now. … We will have to see what progresses from it. I’m always ready to project myself into the game and the growth of the sport. That would be a huge growth for the sport.”
NBA players are not allowed to invest in NBA teams as of now, per the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players’ union. But there is nothing in the CBA that precludes NBA players from being part owners of Basketball Africa League (BAL) teams or potentially in NBA Europe. One prominent NBA agent, however, told Andscape the expectation is that active NBA players will ultimately be able to have a minority but not controlling interest in NBA Europe teams.
Durant, 37, is under contract with the Rockets through the 2027-28 season, which means he would likely still be playing in the NBA when NBA Europe starts. During the NBA Cup in December, Andscape asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver his thoughts about Durant potentially being a minority owner of PSG’s possible NBA Europe franchise.
“Obviously, there’s a lot built into your question — the assumption that PSG would have a team, and then if PSG were to have a team, that Kevin Durant, who’s an investor in PSG, could remain,” Silver answered. “Those are all issues we have to work through. I would say, as you know, if you just begin with the framework in the U.S., because we have a salary-cap system, we don’t allow players — by agreement with the players’ association — to also be investors in NBA clubs.
“We view that as a conflict. But incidentally, they can invest in WNBA teams if they’re not NBA owners, and we have some players who have done that. So, I think that once we make a decision on Europe and then we’re looking at who the right owners are, if there was a situation where a player had an investment in that ownership group, we would have to figure out a framework for those issues and work with the players’ association on that, as well.”
One prominent NBA agent told Andscape he wouldn’t be surprised if NBA stars from Europe like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić would be interested in ownership in NBA Europe. Dončić is part of an investor group headed by ex-Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson that is seeking to bring a team to Rome as part of NBA Europe, The Athletic has reported.
The BAL is also expected to transition to a franchise-based system by 2027, with 10 permanent franchises and two annual qualifiers. An owner of a team playing in the BAL this season told Andscape that the NBA is having conversations with potential franchise owners for teams that could have a starting price of about $50 million.
Antetokounmpo said during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend that he would have interest in ownership in the NBA in retirement and NBA Europe and the Basketball Africa League now. Antetokounmpo was born in Greece, played in Greece for Filathlitikos BC from 2011-13, and his parents are from Nigeria. Antetokounmpo is currently a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, MLS’s Nashville SC and Chelsea FC’s women soccer team.
“Anything that comes across my desk to be an owner in sports, I would consider it,” Antetokounmpo said. “The NBA as well. … If I ever come into a position where I’m able to make that decision and it won’t affect my lifestyle, my family’s lifestyle, it won’t be too risky for the growth of my wealth and network, I’d definitely consider doing it. I love the game of basketball. Any way I can be involved in it, I’d love to be involved. Whether it’s playing or I can be in a position to coach or maybe an owner, I’d love to do it.
“Equity in anything that has to do with the NBA, it’s smart. Take it. Don’t leave it on the table. I’m taking it. If you give me equity in anything in the NBA, I’m taking it.”
Durant, through his investment vehicle 35V and Boardroom, also holds ownership stakes in the Philadelphia Union (MLS), Gotham FC (NWSL), Premier Lacrosse League, and Major League Pickleball’s Brooklyn team. The 2014 NBA MVP said he has never been to Africa, but he would also be interested in learning more about the BAL and potential ownership.
“Anything that can connect the NBA through the rest of the world, a structured league, hell yeah I’m down for it,” Durant said. “I’ve been inspired by [former NBA All-Star] Luol Deng since I was in high school. To see what he is doing in South Sudan, for his people and the game of basketball, I’m sure that is someone I can get with and pick his brain a little bit. There is so much happening with the game of basketball, the content. … There can be some big changes, some big shifts in the game of basketball.”
With Michael Jordan’s sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in June 2023, there was no longer any majority African American ownership in the NBA. The only two people of color who now have majority ownership in an NBA team are the Sacramento Kings’ Vivek Ranadive and the Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Tsai. Jordan’s sale also meant that there was no majority ownership of any team by any former player.
Jordan bought a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets (then the Bobcats) for about $275 million in March 2010, then sold his majority stake in the Hornets in 2023 at $3 billion. Durant was impressed and inspired by Jordan’s return on investment.
“Just like any businessman, at times, it’s a great stock to have in the NBA,” Durant said. “He didn’t pay a billion for that team. And to get paid [$3 billion] for that team is a win. Mike did it the right way. He experienced coming in as an owner and an executive. He has done everything he needed to do within the game of basketball. It was inspiring to see him own the Charlotte team in his home [state] and run the team.”
Durant has dreams of being part of an NBA ownership team when he retires. The two-time NBA champion is the NBA’s all-time leader in career earnings, with about $598.2 million in on-court salary valuation based on past and future guaranteed salary contract amounts. But in order for the likes of Durant, James, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry or another wealthy NBA player to purchase a franchise when their playing days are over, Durant acknowledges they likely won’t be doing so alone.
The Portland Trail Blazers sold for $4.25 billion in March, while the Lakers sold for a franchise valuation of $10 billion in October 2025.
“Sole owner? No. But you can definitely be a part of a group,” Durant said. “I wouldn’t say a player could have full control. ‘Bron, maybe. It has to be one of those types of players. Steph, ’Bron, myself. It takes players that have been in the league for a while, that have relationships, that are building businesses off the floor. You got to have a lot of capital to buy an NBA team. I’m not banking on it, but I’d love for it to happen.”
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When asked about the NBA not having any African American NBA ownership, Durant had a more global and diverse point of view.
“I just hope Black wealth around the world changes, not just in the [NBA],” Durant said. “I want to see more African Americans become hundred-millionaires, billionaires. I just think around the world there should be more representation of Black Americans that obtain wealth. And of course, it could trickle down to every industry. There could be more. Overall, that is something we need to keep growing as Black Americans.”
Durant is in his 19th NBA season after beginning his with the now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics. The Sonics played in Seattle for 41 seasons from 1967 to 2008 before moving to Oklahoma City and becoming the Thunder.
The NBA has said it plans to add two expansion franchises in the coming years, most likely in Seattle and Las Vegas. The WNBA also added the expansion Golden State Valkyries last season and are adding the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire this season. The WNBA also plans to add new franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030).
Durant is happy to see the projected return of the NBA to Seattle.
“It is exciting times being in the NBA,” Durant said. “Expansion in the WNBA and the NBA just shows that the game is being consumed all over the world. It’s in high demand in these markets. The league is in a great place when you can expand. It’s that simple. So, we’ll see what happens. Vegas and Seattle are coming around. I’m looking forward to it. …
“[Seattle] was great to hear. That is a basketball town. Not having an NBA team makes a huge void in a city, especially after having one for that long and building up such a dope brand. And then leaving for 20 years is tough to take as a fan or somebody who lives in that region.”
