Anbox, the organization behind the New York Subliners, New York Excelsior, and a VALORANT team of the same name, announced a partnership with Kevin Durant and Rick Kleiman’s Thirty Five Ventures as investors and creative partners.
Another star has backed Andbox as an investor. (image via Nicole Sweet- USA Today Sports)
Kleiman runs Thirty Five Ventures, Durant’s investment group, supporting multiple business entities across tech, media, and philanthropy. Kleiman told Forbes the investment in Andbox was a “no-brainer” given Durant’s passion for gaming.
Kevin Durant is a two-time NBA champion and currently plates for the Brooklyn Nets. He is also an avid gamer who enjoys Call of Duty and NBA 2K. His passion for gaming and professional competition makes joining Anbox as an investor the perfect move.
“The passion that New York sports fans have has really hit home with me,” Durant said in a press release. “Andbox is bringing that same energy to esports here, and that’s something Thirty Five Ventures is very excited to be a part of.”
Durant will collaborate with Andbox members in the “creation of new entertainment content and the design of new merchandise collections.” This includes playing alongside members of the Subliners in online tournaments and games.
Durant is joining Andbox’s diverse background of investors, including actor Michael B. Jordan and Jeff Raider, the co-founder and CEO of Harry’s. Andbox owns and operates multiple professional esports teams in the New York area. It has also created platforms for amateur players to prove themselves and showcase their skillset. Andbox also features content creators and streamers like CDNThe3rd and BobbyPlays.
Call of Duty champion James “Clayster” Eubanks joined the organization for the 2021 Call of Duty League season, and the team is currently in fourth place in the league standings. Durant’s investment will likely introduce new fans to the organization, helping esports grow in popularity.
