Warriors F Kevin Durant is "one of several NBA superstars making a fast break for tech investments, partnerships and start-up equity," and has invested an "undisclosed amount in start-up Rubrik," according to Jon Swartz of USA TODAY. Durant also was named a board adviser for "advice on strategic marketing initiatives." Durant said that it is a "'perfect opportunity" in the business-to-business market that is a 'major play'" for him and the company. Durant yesterday represented the cloud-data management start-up "at the VMworld technology conference in Las Vegas." Swartz wrote Durant Company has also "plowed money into Postmates, an on-demand delivery service, and investment app Acorns." Durant also said that his company is "huddling with uber-angel investor Ronald Conway 'to bounce around ideas and understand the business.'" Warriors G Stephen Curry and F Andre Iguodala have "also made the rounds." Last year, Kobe Bryant launched a $100M venture fund "focused on tech, data and media companies" in the L.A. area. In N.Y., Knicks F Carmelo Anthony "co-founded Melo7 Tech Partners and has taken stakes in 28 companies." Magic F Aaron Gordon "invested in and advises mental-fitness app maker Lucid Performance because of his work with" Lucid Dir of Mental Training Graham Betchart (USA TODAY, 8/29). Palo Alto-based Rubrik said that Durant will advise it on "content development opportunities through his Thirty Five Media business arm, which includes [his] popular YouTube channel" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/28).
