NBA superstar/entrepreneur breaks down the free agency spectacle with ESPN’s First Take commentator; Special episode available now exclusively on ESPN+; Season 2 to premiere in February; Subscribe to ESPN+ on the ESPN App, ESPN.com and connected TV devices
Aspecial “Free Agency Frenzy” episode of The Boardroom, produced by NBA star Kevin Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures and ESPN+, is available now exclusively on ESPN+, the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service.
Durant and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, along with series host Jay Williams, convene in The Boardroom to discuss NBA free agency, one of the most polarizing topics in sports business. The three break down how the business of the NBA offseason and media coverage of the league’s free agency have turned into a year-long spectacle, fueling passionate debates and excitement around the basketball world.
The Boardroom, executive produced by Durant and sports and entertainment executive Rich Kleiman, brings fans inside the business of sports, with candid conversations among star athletes and industry-leading executives about the current issues that are changing the game.
“I’m thrilled to be part of The Boardroom on ESPN+ to break down the media side from my perspective with Kevin and Jay,” said Smith, a featured commentator across ESPN platforms, including First Take, and host of SportsCenter with Stephen A. Smith before ESPN’s Wednesday NBA games. “This is a candid conversation with me and one of the best players in the game about misquoted comments, his free-agency journey and what the process has become.”
Season 2 of The Boardroom will premiere in February, and all six episodes of Season 1 are now streaming on ESPN+. Each episode of Season 1 focuses on one major topic or theme in sports, ranging from the burgeoning sneaker industry to team ownership, to athlete brand-building, player development and the business of social media.
Durant will join Smith, as well as Max Kellerman and Molly Qerim Rose, live in studio on First Take tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET, to further discuss his free agency moves and more.
Follow The Boardroom @theboardroom on Instagram and @boardroom on Twitter.
About Thirty Five Ventures
Co-founded by two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman, Thirty Five Ventures incorporates the duo’s business entities across sports, tech, media, philanthropy and more.
Recent Thirty Five Ventures initiatives include The Boardroom, a multi-platform sports business/culture-focused vertical distributed by ESPN, the basketball-themed scripted series “SWAGGER” with Imagine Entertainment and Apple, an equity partnership with premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, and the Durant Center, a state-of-the-art educational and leadership facility in Durant’s hometown in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. It reached 2 million subscribers in less than a year and offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.
Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHL games, exclusive UFC, Top Rank boxing and PFL fights and events, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredivisie, and more), thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and other sports), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, new and exclusive series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and can cancel at any time.
ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com. They are the industry-leading all-in-one digital sports platform, delivering a rich, personalized experience to tens of millions of fans every month.
