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Kevin Durant x MLB: Luring Mookie Betts & Others, NBA Millionaire Opens Doors For Streaming Legacy, via Multi-Year Partnership

Published 05/08/2024, 4:02 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The first thought that comes to mind when one thinks of Kevin Durant is his unicorn-like basketballing abilities, incredible scoring ability or his two championships with the Golden State Warriors. Usually, everything related to basketball. However, KD is more than a one-trick pony. He has diversified his generational wealth into multiple industries. And it’s paying off. Recently, his media company sealed a multi-year agreement with Major League Baseball.

Boardroom was founded by Kevin Durant and his agent, Rich Klienman, in 2019. According to Boardroom’s official website, the company “is a sports, media and entertainment brand, focused on the intersection of sports and entertainment.” In just five years, the brand has made significant strides in both sports and the entertainment industry. And recently, Boardroom took another giant step in the right direction, as they announced a multi-year partnership with MLB. This deal will bring MLB players together with athletes, executives, and entertainers for curated events and storytelling across Boardroom’s extensive platform.

However, Boardroom’s involvement extends beyond MLB. They have a wide array of investments in various sports leagues and teams. Besides their newly minted MLB deal, Boardroom have invested in Gotham FC (NSWL Champions), MLS side Philadelphia Union, and Major League Pickleball’s Brooklyn Aces.

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However, let’s shift our focus back to Boardroom and their multi-year deal with MLB. The deal was in the pipeline for quite some time now. However, it was Kevin Durant’s involvement that finally sealed the agreement.

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Kevin Durant and Boardroom’s “Dinner in the Desert”

Back in February 2024, Boardroom and MLB linked up in Arizona to host an event called “Dinner in the Desert.” Several MLB stars like Mookie Betts, Julio Rodríguez, Corbin Carroll, Tyler Glasnow, Dansby Swanson, Hunter Greene and Willy Adames showed up for the event, as did Kevin Durant. Even MLB commissioner Ryan Manfred joined in on the festivities.

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The event appeared to be a resounding success. Ryan Manfred even described it as a “great opportunity” for players. He said, “(It’s a) great opportunity for our players that are here to make connections and talk about what they want to do in the next phase of their lives.” MLB star Dansby Swanson seemed to agree with Manfred’s assessment. He said, “Honestly I just love connecting with people, especially some familiar faces,” Swanson said at the February event. “Just being able to chat away from the field is always nice, so we’re just enjoying a nice lovely night in Arizona.”

Going forward, the joint events between Kevin Durant-owned Boardroom and the MLB will be designed for networking and long-term relationship building. The events will also be centered around key moments during the MLB season, which usually starts in early March and ends in early October.

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Written by:

Dushyant Singh

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Dushyant Singh is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. Ever since the Lakers’ Orlando Bubble victory, he has maintained a vigilant eye on the NBA with his research-heavy perspective, along with a specialization in covering predictive lineups. He keenly observes the evolving narratives that unfold each season.
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Edited by:

Shivatmika Manvi