Cover Story
Video
Articles
Newsletter
Members Club
Members Club

About Boardroom

Boardroom is a sports, media and entertainment brand co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman and focused on the intersection of sports and entertainment. Boardroom’s flagship media arm features premium video/audio, editorial, daily and weekly newsletters, showcasing how athletes, executives, musicians and creators are moving the business world forward. Boardroom’s ecosystem encompasses B2B events and experiences (such as its renowned NBA and WNBA All-Star events) as well as ticketed conferences such as Game Plan in partnership with CNBC. Our advisory arm serves to consult and connect athletes, brands and executives with our broader network and initiatives.

Recent film and TV projects also under the Boardroom umbrella include the Academy Award-winning Two Distant Strangers (Netflix), the critically acclaimed scripted series SWAGGER (Apple TV+) and Emmy-nominated documentary NYC Point Gods (Showtime).

Boardroom’s sister company, Boardroom Sports Holdings, features investments in emerging sports teams and leagues, including the Major League Pickleball team, the Brooklyn Aces, NWSL champions Gotham FC, and MLS’ Philadelphia Union.

All Rights Reserved. 2026.
News...Straight to the point.
August 12, 2026
Get the Newsletter

Subscribe for the biggest stories in the business of sports and entertainment, daily.

The Los Angeles Lakers are set for another record-breaking sale, with Josh Kushner and Bob Iger reportedly agreeing to buy the franchise for $12.5 billion. The deal would top the $10 billion valuation Mark Walter paid for a controlling stake last year and become the largest sale of a professional sports franchise. The transaction still requires NBA approval. Kushner will sell his Miami Heat stake, while Iger previously co-owned NWSL’s Angel City FC.

LeBron James is ushering in a new era with the Nike LeBron 24, which he called the lightest signature shoe of his career in a recent Instagram post. Debuted in a blue-and-black colorway fitting his new Philadelphia chapter, the sneaker introduces Nike’s new breathable KingKnit upper material, while retaining the crown-inspired design language of the LeBron 23. The shoe features an array of new technology, but Nike has yet to announce a release date or retail price.

Alex Cooper’s Unwell is getting a major valuation boost. WTSL, the Silver Lake-backed firm led by Patrick Whitesell, has made its first outside investment in the media company, valuing it at $500 million. The funding will support expansion through acquisitions and investments. Founded by Cooper and Matt Kaplan in 2023, Unwell has grown beyond Call Her Daddy into podcasts, live events, merchandise, beverages, and film and TV production. The company has reportedly been profitable for three years.

Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington are teaming up for Animals, a new Netflix thriller about a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife who are forced to take matters into their own hands after their son is kidnapped. Affleck directs and co-wrote the film, marking his first return behind the camera since 2023’s Air. Animals will premiere in select theaters and on Netflix Oct. 9.

Be sure to watch the full teaser trailer here. >>

Russell Westbrook is calling it a career after 18 NBA seasons, posting what appears to be a retirement announcement video narrated by Michael B. Jordan. The nine-time All-Star, who reportedly chose to retire over offers from the Kings and Wizards, leaves the game as its all-time triple-double leader with 209, along with career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists. Westbrook won the 2017 MVP after becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a season.

The Dallas Cowboys remain the NFL’s most valuable franchise, with Sportico estimating their worth at a staggering $15.5 billion. It marks the seventh consecutive year Dallas has topped the rankings, while the league’s average team value surged 31% to $9.34 billion. The Rams ($12.7 billion) and Giants ($12 billion) round out the top three. The Cowboys also rank No. 1 across all sports, while the Bengals’ $7.4 billion valuation — the lowest in the NFL — still puts them ahead of all but six teams in other major leagues.

Seinfeld is staying put. Netflix has renewed its U.S. and Canadian streaming rights to the iconic sitcom for another five years, while Paramount extended its U.S. basic-cable rights for three more years. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The 1989 series remains a ratings powerhouse decades later, with nearly 60 million Americans watching at least part of the show during the first half of 2026. The deal underscores the enduring value of TV’s most iconic comedies.

The Jonas Brothers are set to headline halftime when the 49ers face the Rams in Melbourne on Sept. 11, bringing a major pop act to the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. The game at Melbourne Cricket Ground will stream live on Netflix and kick off a record international slate spanning seven countries. The performance is the first of seven halftime shows planned for this season, with the remaining artists still to be announced.

Steven Spielberg will be the latest filmmaker honored at the Museum of Modern Art’s Film Benefit, with the Chanel-presented gala set for Nov. 12 in New York. MoMA will also celebrate his career with a screening series featuring films from its collection, including Jaws, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Color Purple. The tribute comes as Spielberg continues a decorated year following the release of his latest film, Disclosure Day.

Christian McCaffrey is adding another fashion partnership to his off-field portfolio, signing with Peter Millar as the brand’s first NFL ambassador. The San Francisco 49ers running back will front the label’s new Pursuit collection, launching Aug. 20, as Peter Millar expands beyond its golf roots into football and broader sport culture. McCaffrey’s growing interest in golf and performance apparel made him a natural fit following his 2025 exit from Nike.

The NBA Cup returns Oct. 30 with 60 group-play games, including a loaded opening-night doubleheader: The Knicks visit LeBron James and the 76ers, followed by the Lakers vs. Warriors. Other marquee matchups include Knicks–Pacers, Warriors–Spurs, and Heat–Sixers. Group play runs through Nov. 27, with 15 games airing nationally on Prime Video, NBC, and ESPN. Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds, culminating in the Dec. 11 championship at Indianapolis’ Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Paramount Skydance is warning it could leave California as its legal battle over the proposed $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition intensifies. The company’s top lawyer said Paramount is weighing its options amid delays from a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other states. Paramount faces roughly $7 million in daily penalties starting in October if the deal remains incomplete, plus a potential $7 billion termination fee if it misses the June 1 deadline.

Image: Rich Storry / Getty Images

Read More:

Boardroom Staff