Kevin Wayne Durant is a world-known basketball player. He currently plays for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.
Durant enjoys massive popularity, as a result of which he has been ranked the tenth highest-paid athlete in the world in 2023 by Forbes. He is also one of the richest celebrities in the world.
Interestingly, a majority of Durant’s income comes from his brand endorsement deals. With a reported net worth of US$92.1 million, he earns around US$50 million from endorsements and sponsorship deals.
Let’s take a look at the brands that have contributed and continue to contribute to Durant’s income.
Also read: Top 10 NBA Players of All Time
Kevin Durant’s Sponsors and Brand Endorsements
Alaska Airlines
In 2017, Durant partnered with Alaska Airlines to promote youth and education programmes in the San Francisco Bay Arena.
Panini America
Panini America, the world’s largest sports collectibles company, announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Kevin Durant back in his OKC days in 2016. As part of the agreement, Durant became the global NBA spokesman for the company and his autographed trading cards and memorabilia were made available exclusively through the Panini America website and Panini Authentic.
Weedmaps
In 2021, Weedmaps announced a multi-year partnership with Kevin Durant and Thirty-Five ventures in order to create collaborative content aimed to combat misconceptions against marijuana use and advocating it for legalisation.
As part of Weedmaps’ mission to power a transparent and inclusive global cannabis economy, this strategic partnership aims to further deconstruct the negative stereotypes associated with cannabis while elevating the conversation around the plant’s potential for athlete wellness and recovery.
Nike
In 2014, Durant joined forces with American sportswear giant Nike. The ten-year deal is estimated to be worth US$300 million and also includes a US$50m retirement package.
Nike and Durant further extended their partnership after the Suns star signed a lifetime endorsement agreement with Nike in May 2023. The partnership includes footwear apparel, community and philanthropic collaborations aimed at grassroots basketball.
NBA 2K
NBA 2K is a series of basketball sports simulation video games. Kevin has been one of its many faces for a few years now.
Alaska Air Group
Kevin Durant teamed up with Alaska Air Group in September 2017 to support youth and education programmes in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2020, rather than just being a spokesperson in the NBA, Durant officially became ‘advisor to the CEO’ for Alaska Airlines.
As part of the agreement, Durant played a key part in all the marketing initiatives and worked with the airlines to support the education programme.
Beats
Kevin is one of the many faces of Beats by Dre. In 2018, Beats became the official headphone and wireless speaker sponsor of the NBA and endorsed several of the top athletes in the league like James Harden, LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Before Kevin started endorsing Beats by Dre, he used to advertise for rival brand, Skullcandy.
American Family Insurance
Kevin was roped in as a brand ambassador for American Family Insurance in 2015. Together as a part of the partnership, the two collaborated for an online series called Dream to Achieve. The series, produced by Thirty-Five Ventures, aimed to pursue people to achieve their dreams.
BBVA
Multinational Spanish banking group BBVA became the official bank sponsor for the NBA in 2010 and chose Kevin Durant and James Harden as its global brand ambassadors. These players were chosen as at the time they embodied a new generation of players which fit perfectly with BBVA, which was itself a new bank.
Durant participated in financial education and community activities promoted by BBVA, especially in the US.
Sparkling Ice
Kevin’s association with beverage brand Sparkling Ice began in 2014. Both parties partnered up to unveil a basketball court in Seattle for underprivileged youth in 2016. The court underwent full renovation with the joint effort of Sparkling Ice and Seattle Parks and Recreation.
Gatorade
Kevin featured in a Gatorade commercial in 2013. He was the spokesperson of the energy drink in the NBA and featured in a series of commercials with Dwayne Wade, where the two were shown having nightmares of one another.
Sonic Drive-In
Kevin teamed up with drive-in fast-food restaurant chain Sonic Drive-In in 2014. He became one of its pitchmen and even had his own custom sonic slush flavour, ‘High flyer slush’, in 2015.
Sprint
In the past, Kevin has also endorsed telecommunications company Sprint. The integrated digital brand agency released its first TV commercial starring Durant as the main lead during the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2012.
The campaign was centered around the notion of convincing people that ‘downloading data is always worth it’.
Coinbase
In December 2021, Durant signed a multi-year partnership with crypto platform Coinbase. While Durant is the face of the brand, Coinbase gains from running advertisements and sponsored content on Durant’s own sports website, Boardroom.
2K Sports
In December 2020, Durant signed a long-term agreement with 2K Sports to collaborate together on game development of the company’s NBA simulation video game series: NBA 2K.
Dapper Labs
Durant signed a multi-year deal with Dapper Labs, a consumer-focused flow blockchain product, in October 2021. The partnership sees the two collaborate over giveaways, fan-to-fan trading, behind-the-scenes previews and other content activities.
Durant’s Thirty Five Media company inked a multi-year deal with Google-owned platform YouTube in 2018. The partnership sees Thirty Five Media work towards creating more athlete-driven video content.
Personal investments
- KD owned a mansion in Malibu which had previously been home to several Hollywood celebrities. This house featured a deck that offered a view of the beach. On the deck, KD had a hot tub to relax in his free time. He also had a wine wall with a mix of several of his favorite brands. The place was sold for US$12.15 million when KD decided to shift to Oakland.
- When Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, he bought a mansion in the Oakland hills. This home featured seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows, while also boasting a home theater, a curved staircase and a private basketball court. It also had a mix of green lawn and concrete terrace. When Kevin Durant left the Dubs, the house was put on rent, but later an asking price of US$5.99 million was labeled for the place.
- Kevin Durant has the most expensive car collection in the NBA, which beats those of LeBron James and Steph Curry. His car collection is speculated to be worth around US$4 million.
- KD’s garage includes a 1966 Ford GT40 (US$2.5 million) and a customised Chevrolet Camaro SS matching his sneakers.
- Durant has the eighth-most expensive car collection among the world’s professional athletes. That ranking is topped by Lionel Messi with cars worth an estimated US$38,873,313.
- Durant has often been seen driving a Ferrari California, which costs approximately US$200,000. Lamborghinis, Range Rovers, Ferraris, Porsches, various Mercedes-Benz models, and a classic 1966 Ford GT 40 are some of the other cars he owns.
- In 2021, Durant and his business partner and agent Rich Kleiman have invested in New York esports organization, Andbox through their investment arm, Thirty-Five Ventures.