RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sourcesKevin Durant reveals how one Jay-Z call made him ditch Kobe Bryant and LeBron James' agent originally appeared on The Sporting News .
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant's decision to join Roc Nation Sports in 2013 marked one of the most significant shifts in modern athlete representation and personal brand development. Prior to the move, Durant was represented by Rob Pelinka, whose client list included NBA stars Kobe Bryant and James Harden while at Landmark Sports.
Everything changed when Jay-Z launched Roc Nation Sports in early 2013. The agency aimed to redefine the traditional sports management model by combining athlete representation with opportunities in entertainment, music, business investments, branding, and media.
For Durant, the move offered much more than contract negotiations. It was a chance to build a long-term business partnership that extended beyond basketball and KD didn’t miss it.
During an interview, Durant recalled the moment he learned Jay-Z was entering the sports agency business and explained why he immediately decided to leave his previous representation
"I went to Rob Pelinka who was Kobe's agent and James' agent at the time and then Jay-Z called. My boy from the same area he's starting the agency,” KD said .
"Soon as I heard Jay-Z,I was like oh shit all right bet. So I went to go holler at Jay-Z and Rich (Kleiman) was there at the meeting and OG Juan.I'm like you know what? I wouldn't mind going into business with Jay-Z.”
At the time, Pelinka was widely regarded as one of basketball's elite agents, and Durant had spent roughly a year under his representation before making the high-profile switch to Roc Nation Sports.
That decision ultimately proved to be a turning point in Durant's off-court career. Together with Rich Kleiman, he later co-founded Thirty Five Ventures (35V), an investment and media company that oversees Durant's business portfolio.
Rather than relying on outside companies to shape his brand and tell his story, Durant created his own business ecosystem. His partnership with Jay-Z and Roc Nation helped transform him from simply being one of the NBA's biggest stars into a great entrepreneur.
More NBA news:
Mavericks’ dream trio of Kevin Durant, Cooper Flagg, and Kyrie Irving floated in trade idea
Young Spurs talent finds fresh opportunity after San Antonio moves on
Better teammates helped Victor Wembanyama solve his biggest flaw
Miami Heat’s 'obsession' with Klay Thompson faces Mavericks roadblock
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.