By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Kevin Durant may be positioning himself for a future role in European basketball ownership, with growing links between Paris Saint-Germain and the NBA’s expansion plans. The Houston Rockets star acquired a minority stake in PSG on June 21, after first building a relationship with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Around the same time, reports indicated PSG’s ownership group is exploring a bid for a potential NBA Europe franchise, with the league expected to launch in 2027–28. If PSG secures a team, Durant could have indirect involvement, though he downplayed any concrete developments for now.
“I haven’t heard much on it. There are rumors, like there has always been. 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,” Durant told Andscape on April 6.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum confirmed earlier in April that the league, in cooperation with FIBA, plans to begin reviewing bids from prospective European franchises. Durant acknowledged that the idea of being connected to such a project was already part of the broader vision when he joined PSG.
“When we were out there for the Olympics, I went to the PSG headquarters. 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.”
Despite acknowledging the long-term potential, Durant stressed that discussions around a possible PSG-backed basketball project are still at a very early stage, with no concrete developments so far.
“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.”
Current NBA rules prevent active players from owning stakes in NBA franchises, but there are no such restrictions tied to leagues like the Basketball Africa League—or potentially NBA Europe. There is also a growing belief within the industry that players could eventually be allowed minority shares in European teams.
Read the full article here
