Ownership remains a largely unexplored frontier for NBA superstars. It signifies wealth over riches. So far, despite the high demand for their services, only Michael Jordan has been able to translate his on-court success into possession of an NBA franchise, with the Charlotte Hornets. Despite the rarity of a player-turned-owner, Kevin Durant told Nick Friedell of ESPN he's definitely down to be an owner, especially for the first NBA city he called home.
"Hell yeah," Durant said when asked about the prospect of owning an NBA team in Seattle after his Warriors blew out the Cavs on Wed. night. "Of course I would. No matter if it's Seattle or any team, just to help young men grow. Or help men in the next phase of their lives as basketball players. Why not? Especially somebody who's gone through it and been through just about everything as an NBA player, outside of getting traded, I've been through pretty much everything. I would love to give back to an organization, the knowledge that I've gained. So hell yeah I'd be interested."
Tuesday's announcement that the NHL is coming to Seattle for the 2021-22 season was the impetus for broaching the topic of ownership as KeyArena (former home of the SuperSonics) continues to be refurbished. On top of KD's rookie season in Seattle, he rocked a Shawn Kemp jersey in Seattle for an October preseason game and told the crowd and reporters he hoped the NBA would return to Emerald City. However, a stake in an NBA franchise isn't contingent on the city of Seattle.
"I know people want to tie me into Seattle a lot, and I love being part of that," Durant told ESPN. "But I'm not just waiting for that opportunity. Any opportunity that comes around where I could become [part of] an ownership group or a front office or anywhere I could just help the team as of right now in my life I would go for it, but who knows what will happen at the end of my career?"
