People who are great sports players are frequently great at multiple
sports. Michael Jordan, a professional basketball and baseball player,
is probably the most well-known example. One example is Tim Duncan, who
excels at swimming and basketball.
Over the years, though, there have been many that have been interested
in football (soccer), too. Therefore, it is no secret that some of the
biggest names in the NBA have an ownership stake in soccer teams. In
fact, it's become somewhat of a trend in recent years.
Indeed, it would not be a surprise if many of them also have one eye on
the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup and are looking forward to seeing the
beginning of this year’s edition, especially with the USMNT and Canada
both involved.
With
football and basketball incredibly popular betting sports for many
across the US and the world, we already know that many are looking at
the sports markets at in2bet.com.cy,
where they are able to find all of the latest odds and markets for the
games scheduled to be played in Qatar over the course of the next
month, but could we see interest from some of the names to appear on
the list below?
Here's a look at some of the most notable NBA players who own soccer
teams.
James Harden of the
Houston Dynamo
One of the most recent examples is James Harden, who purchased a
minority stake in the Houston Dynamo in 2019. The deal made Harden the
first active NBA player to own part of an MLS team. Prior to purchasing
the Dynamo, Harden had been a big fan of the team and was often seen
attending their games, perhaps because he was a part of the Houston
Rockets roster.
Kevin Durant of the
Philadelphia Union
Another big name in the NBA who owns a soccer team is Kevin Durant.
Durant, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, is a minority owner of Major
League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. He became an owner back in 2018 and
has since been very involved with the team, even attending practices on
occasion.
Magic Johnson of LAFC
Magic Johnson is one of the most well-known basketball players of all
time and he also happens to be an owner of an MLS team. He is a
part-owner of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), which made its debut in
2018.
Steve Nash of the
Vancouver Whitecaps
NBA legend Steve Nash is another basketball player with ties to MLS. He
is part-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps, which he joined in 2009 when
the team was still playing in Division 2. Nash has helped guide the
Whitecaps through their transition to MLS and has been instrumental in
their success both on and off the field.
LeBron James of
Liverpool
Arguably the most famous basketball player in the world, LeBron James,
also has an ownership stake in a soccer team. He is part-owner of
English Premier League club Liverpool FC. James first purchased a
minority stake in Liverpool back in 2011 and has since helped grow its
worldwide brand and following.
Conclusion
Whether it's because they're fans themselves or they see it as a good
investment opportunity, more and more NBA players are becoming owners
of soccer teams. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues
in the years to come.
