October 12 – National Basketball Association (NBA) superstarShai Gilgeous-Alexander has bought a stake in Atlético Madrid.
Atlético did not disclose the size of the stake, the amount invested or whether the shares are new or existing.
“I’m excited to officially join Atlético de Madrid’s shareholder group,” said the Oklahoma City Thunder guard. “This is a club with a long history at the highest level of European football, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future.”
Born in Toronto and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Gilgeous-Alexander played college basketball at Kentucky before becoming the Thunder’s central figure. He won the NBA title and Finals MVP in 2025 alongside back-to-back regular-season MVP awards. Last season he averaged 31.1 points per game on 55.3% shooting, according to Atlético.
He’s not the first in the NBA to cast his eyes to football. LeBron James became a minority owner of Liverpool through Fenway Sports Group in 2011, later becoming a partner in FSG itself. Kevin Durant took a stake in PSG last year.
Gilgeous-Alexander brings Atlético a name recognised across North America, where the club’s profile is lower than that of Real Madrid or Barcelona.
For the players, investment in European sport is diversification. Careers in the NBA are short, and the earnings at the top are now large enough for stars to build investment portfolios across sport rather than simply endorsements.
Atlético said the deal was a sign of the player’s belief in the club’s long-term strategy and international growth.
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