Kevin Durant Is Already Using Kyrie Irving Far Better than LeBron
Kevin Durant is growing his status off the court as quickly as it grew on the court. | Source: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, file
- Kevin Durant had Kyrie Irving as the first guest on his new podcast.
- During the podcast, Irving said several controversial statements.
- Durant has just used Kyrie to bring more eyes to his new venture.
Kevin Durant may never be quite as good as peak LeBron James on the basketball court. But he might get close to him as a businessman.
He showed it with his new podcast, which featured Kyrie Irving in the first episode.
Kyrie Irving Said What?!
If you’re a basketball fan, you’ve no doubt heard the blasphemy that Kyrie Irving spoke earlier this week. He basically hinted that LeBron James wasn’t a clutch player, and he completely dismissed his new head coach, Steve Nash.
It had the basketball world up in arms.
Everyone has been talking about it. Some have taken Kyrie’s side, but most have chalked it up to jealousy, immaturity, or just plain lunacy.
As outlandish as his comments may have been, it has people talking. And it has people talking about Kevin Durant’s new podcast, ‘The ETCs.’
It’s been a brilliant way to get millions of eyes and ears on his new project, but this isn’t the first time KD has shown a proficiency in business.
Kevin Durant, Like LeBron James, Is a Businessman
When Kevin Durant joined the loaded Golden State Warriors in 2016, LeBron James was probably not very happy. Neither were commentators like Stephen A. Smith, who called it “the weakest move I’ve ever seen by a superstar:”
While he was joining a juggernaut, KD was also interested in the Bay area for other reasons. That summer, he wrote that the move:
Encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community, which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth.
He wasn’t lying. Kevin Durant invested in a wide variety of companies, like Acorns, Postmates, and Lime . He does it through his company Thirty5 Ventures, which he runs with his manager Rich Kleiman.
He’s also dabbling in TV production with the show “Swagger,” based on his experience in AAU .
LeBron James figured out what Kyrie Irving was good at (scoring), and let him go to town. And now, Kevin Durant using his new teammate’s penchant for uncensored thoughts to his advantage.
He’s fine-tuning his marketing scheme, and he’s learning that controversy sells. Kudos to KD for finally catching up to LeBron in at least one aspect.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
