Kevin Durant is making serious money moves with his new investment in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). Durant joins billionaire Joe Tsai, Arctos Sports Partners, and Brett Jefferson, Bloomberg reports.
Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., along with other prominent sports, entertainment, and media figures, have rallied together to fund the league.
According to Bloomberg, the PLL Major League Lacrosse obtained the Major League Lacrosse in 2020 to institute the sports association as the only outdoor lacrosse organization in the United States.
“The marketplace saw a proof of concept backed up by performance,” said Mike Rabil, PLL’s CEO, who indicated that ESPN gained the media rights for the league.
“Our purpose — in addition to growing the company — is getting out in front of the opportunity to grow the sport internationally,” said Rabil, Bloomberg reports.
The Chernin Group, a beginning investor in the league, guided the round of additional investors.
News: @PremierLacrosse League raises a new undisclosed round of financing led by The Chernin Group.
New investors include:
— WWE
— 35 Ventures ft. @richkleiman/@kdtrey5
— Pomp Investments ft. @JoePompliano
— Wheelhouse Entertainment— Mark J. Burns (@markjburns88) July 21, 2022
Rabil wants to expand the league and believes the additional capital will assist those efforts. One strategy will be to promote an off-season tournament leading to the 2023 spring college lacrosse season. Rabil is pushing for lacrosse as an event to be included in the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028.
In addition to his financial ventures, Durant also made headlines when he responded to a fan concerning his reaction to a joke by Peyton Manning at the 2017 ESPYs, where he roasted Durant about joining the Warriors.
Before Wednesday’s 2022 ESPY Awards, a Twitter user asked Durant why he seemed “so salty” over Manning’s wisecrack. Durant deadpan replied, “If it was funny I would’ve laughed … it’s a simple concept,” the New York Post reports.
@KDTrey5 why were you so salty? https://t.co/vt2bjw1Mlm
— Gas (@PSG_HeadHoncho) July 20, 2022
Durant is undoubtedly laughing all the way to the bank with his savvy investment choices.