Kevin Durant has taken a direct minority stake in Paris Saint-Germain and can seek the advice of on the membership’s basketball enlargement plans. The funding comes as PSG explores launching a basketball franchise below the NBA’s proposed European league.
Durant restructured his earlier PSG funding by way of Arctos Sports activities Companions to turn out to be a direct shareholder by way of his Boardroom firm. Durant will advise on PSG’s multi-sport technique, together with potential basketball ventures tied to NBA Europe.
The partnership positions Durant on the heart of the NBA’s European enlargement efforts. Commissioner Adam Silver has outlined plans to launch knowledgeable basketball league in Europe inside the subsequent few years, concentrating on 16 groups in markets together with London and Paris.
PSG’s basketball ambitions instantly relate to NBA Europe, in accordance with sources conversant in the planning. Qatar Sports activities Investments, PSG’s mum or dad firm, expressed curiosity in launching a Paris basketball franchise after being approached concerning the NBA’s enlargement plans.
The proposed league faces problems with EuroLeague, which already operates Paris Basketball within the French capital. EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas acknowledged to The Athletic that collaboration with the NBA is changing into needed.
Durant’s Olympic connection to Paris strengthens the partnership’s enchantment. The 36-year-old received his fourth Olympic gold medal in Paris final yr and expressed enthusiasm for the town’s basketball potential.
“It’s an honor to accomplice with QSI and be a shareholder in Paris Saint-Germain — a membership and a metropolis that’s so near my coronary heart,” Durant stated. “This membership has huge plans forward and I am unable to wait to be part of the following section of progress.”
PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi emphasised Durant’s strategic worth past monetary funding.
“We regularly search to raise the membership and our broader portfolio by way of high-impact partnerships that carry strategic worth, innovation, and international perspective,” Al-Khelaifi stated.
The timing aligns with PSG’s stadium growth plans. The membership is exploring new area websites that would accommodate basketball alongside their multi-sport empire.
Durant is predicted to be traded and signal a two-year extension that can run by way of the 2027-28 season. It’s not inconceivable that Durant might play a season or two for PSG when NBA Europe launches within the coming years.
