Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant learned about Postmates from business partner Rich Kleiman. He later recounted the moment to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
“I’m hungry one day, and Rich was like, ‘Yeah, [this company will] bring you food from any restaurant.’ I’m like, ‘They’ve got an app like that? Can you call somebody up there?'”
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Durant put about $1 million into the delivery app in 2016.
Business Insider later reported it was Thirty Five Ventures’ first investment. Durant co-founded the firm with Kleiman.
That summer, Durant personally delivered his newly released Nike KD9 shoes in New York through a collaboration with Postmates. Postmates CEO Bastian Lehmann said Durant’s deal matched what other investors got.
Actor Jared Leto was among roughly six other celebrities who had bought in.
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Durant had just signed with the Golden State Warriors.
“Now that I’m in the Bay, Rich and I plan on living out of their offices and doing anything in our power to make Postmates succeed at the highest level,” Durant wrote in an e-mail.
MORE: Kevin Durant’s Net Worth, NBA Career Earnings, and Endorsements
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and former forward Kevin Durant (35).Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Four years later, he was sitting out the season after rupturing his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals. Then Uber agreed to buy Postmates for $2.65 billion.
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At the time, Postmates counted about 10 million customers and more than 115,000 restaurant partners. Its gross bookings had jumped 67% in a year. Forbes had already pegged Durant’s stake at about $15 million, up roughly 15-fold.
His startup portfolio had topped 40 companies, backed by more than $15 million. The former NBA MVP had laid out his approach in a Forbes cover story months earlier.
“I want to use the checks I get from companies to create true generational wealth,” he said.
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Uber completed the purchase on Dec. 1, 2020, paying in stock. Postmates initially kept running as a separate app.
The 16-time All-Star, now 38, is in his second season in Houston. Looking back, his massive Postmates payday still traces back to an empty stomach. Not bad for a hunger pang.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
