October 12: National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has bought a stake in Atletico Madrid.
Atlético did not disclose the size of the stake, the amount invested or whether the shares are new or existing.
“I am excited to officially join the Atlético de Madrid shareholders group,” said the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard. “This is a club with a long history at the highest level of European football, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future.”
Born in Toronto and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Gilgeous-Alexander played college basketball at Kentucky before becoming the centerpiece for the Thunder. He won the NBA title and Finals MVP in 2025 along with regular season MVP awards. Last season he averaged 31.1 points per game on 55.3% shooting, according to Atlético.
He’s not the first in the NBA to watch football. LeBron James became a minority owner of Liverpool through Fenway Sports Group in 2011, and later became a partner in FSG itself. Kevin Durant played for PSG last year.
Gilgeous-Alexander brings Atlético a name recognized throughout North America, where the club’s profile is lower than that of Real Madrid or Barcelona.
For players, investment in European sport is diversification. NBA careers are short, and the payoffs at the top are now big enough for stars to build sport-wide investment portfolios instead of just endorsements.
Atlético said the deal was a sign of the player’s confidence in the club’s long-term strategy and international growth.
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