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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.

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September 9, 2026
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Jalen Brunson is adding Saturday Night Live host to his championship résumé. The Knicks star will host the Sept. 26 season premiere, becoming the first active NBA player to lead the show since LeBron James in 2007. KATSEYE will join Brunson as musical guest. The Season 52 lineup also includes Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis, and Inde Navarrette, with Turnstile, Rosalía, and Gracie Abrams performing across the first month.

The NFL’s team valuations are reaching unprecedented heights. Forbes values the league’s 32 franchises at more than $300 billion combined, with the average team now worth $9.5 billion, up 34% from 2025. The Dallas Cowboys lead the way for the 20th straight year at a record $17 billion after generating nearly $1.28 billion in revenue last season. Ten teams are now valued above $10 billion, while recent transactions, including the Seahawks’ $9.6 billion sale, signal even more room for franchise values to climb.

Apple officially unveiled the iPhone Duo at its September launch event on Wednesday, its first foldable iPhone, marking a major new chapter for the company. The device features a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen, with a titanium build and redesigned iOS experience built around its two-screen design. The Duo starts at $1,999 and will hit stores on Oct. 23. Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Lionel Messi is expanding his soccer empire. The Inter Miami star has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to acquire 100% of Spanish second-tier club Eldense, pending regulatory approval and due diligence. The move would give Messi a more active role in running the club and put him in direct competition with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns a 25% stake in fellow Segunda Division side Almeria. Messi also owns fifth-tier Spanish club UE Cornella.

Ayo Edebiri is the latest star to join New Balance’s growing roster of celebrity ambassadors. The actress will appear in future campaigns and collaborate with the brand on creative projects and cultural moments. The partnership launches with a campaign shot in Edebiri’s hometown of Boston, where she wears the iconic 574 sneaker. Edebiri joins a lineup that includes Rosalía, Storm Reid, Aminé, Jack Harlow, Shohei Ohtani, and Coco Gauff.

Andrew Garfield takes on Sam Altman in Artificial, Luca Guadagnino’s unsettling new film about OpenAI’s explosive rise and leadership crisis. The first trailer dropped Wednesday casts Garfield as an ominous Altman, warning that AI will reshape — and potentially upend — industries and countries. The film centers on the five-day saga surrounding Altman’s 2023 firing and reinstatement as CEO. Artificial is set to premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival.

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

It appears that LSU has moved on from its attempt to add former NFL rookies Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. The Tigers opted to fill their 105-man roster with returning players Aidan Anding and Gabriel Reliford, ending hopes that the ex-Ole Miss stars would join Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge. The decision comes amid a legal fight with the SEC, which has sued LSU and scheduled a Thursday vote on whether to expel the school from the conference.

Issa Rae has joined LOVB Los Angeles’ ownership group as an investor, adding another major name to the professional volleyball franchise ahead of its inaugural 2027 season. The Los Angeles native and former volleyball player said her investment is focused on supporting elite female athletes and expanding access to the sport for girls across the city. LOVB Los Angeles will play at Intuit Dome in Inglewood and unveil its team name and brand on Sept. 25.

Jimmy Fallon is getting more Sunday night real estate. The Tonight Show will air four episodes following NBC’s Sunday Night Football this season, matching last year’s total after just one post-football episode in 2024-25. The special broadcasts are scheduled for Sept. 27, Nov. 8, Nov. 15, and Jan. 10, with Sylvester Stallone and Luke Bryan among the first guests. NBC says Tonight Show sports coverage generated more than 900 million social views last year.

After initially failing to reach a deal by trianing camp, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have seemingly found common ground. The quarterback agreed to a three-year, $165 million extension, per ESPN, keeping him in Tampa through 2029 with $110 million in new guarantees. The $55 million annual average ranks third among NFL quarterbacks and makes it the largest contract in Bucs history. Mayfield’s previous deal averaged $33.3 million annually.

Jayson Tatum’s comeback is getting a signature shoe to match. The Jordan Tatum 5 arrives this fall with a utility strap for added lockdown and five lines across the heel representing the scar from his Achilles injury. The fifth signature sneaker also features a 10mm forefoot Air Zoom unit and a new take on Tatum’s No. 0, inspired by St. Louis’ Gateway Arch. The “Sunrise” colorway launches Sept. 24 in China, with a global release to follow.

Denzel Ward is adding MLB owner to his Cleveland résumé. The Browns cornerback has purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, joining fellow NFL star Travis Kelce in the team’s ownership group. The 29-year-old Akron-area native has spent his entire eight-year career with Cleveland after starring at Ohio State. Now, Ward has a new way to invest in his hometown, joining an organization currently fighting for an American League playoff spot.

Meta is finally putting its personal AI agent into users’ hands. The company has launched Muse, a new assistant designed to move beyond answering questions and actually get things done, from sending emails and booking travel to building long-term plans. Available now in the U.S. for users 18 and older, Muse marks Meta’s latest push into the fast-growing AI-agent race, with the company emphasizing privacy and security as it rolls out the technology.

The PWHL has inked its first season-long U.S. TV deal, partnering with Scripps Sports for the 2026-27 season. The agreement will bring a weekly PWHL Game of the Week to Ion on Saturday nights, along with the Walter Cup Finals and another playoff series. Scripps Sports Network will also air two games per week. Every game will remain available on YouTube and the league’s website as the PWHL expands to 12 teams.

LIV Golf has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking a major turning point for the Saudi-backed league. LIV reported up to $500 million in assets against as much as $1 billion in liabilities and said it has entered a court-supervised restructuring process with BC Partners. The league plans to return in 2027 under a more sustainable business model, with players expected to become majority owners. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will provide $49.6 million in interim financing.

Image: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

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Boardroom Staff