The rivalry between NBA All-Stars is moving from the basketball court to the pizza industry. Over the past decade, five different NBA champions have joined the pizza business, in hopes of market dominance.
Let’s take a closer look at the pizza brands these NBA legends have decided to invest in:
Lebron James, Blaze Pizza
Number of Locations: 334
In 2012, Lebron James invested close to $1 million into emerging fast-casual chain, Blaze Pizza. Blaze Pizza was one of the first brands to offer fully customizable individual pizzas cooked in a wood burning oven. As part of the agreement, James also opened franchise locations in the Miami and Chicago market. In 2021, James stake in the company was valued at $35 -$45M.
Shaquille O’Neal, Papa John’s Pizza
Number of Locations: 5,650
In 2019, Shaquille O’Neal joined the Board of Directors for Papa John’s Pizza. O’Neal was partly brought in to help give the company a fresh face, following the controversy surrounding former spokesman, John Schnatter. As part of the partnership, O’Neal bought nine franchises in Atlanta and will serve as a brand ambassador for the pizza chain.
Kevin Durant, Pieology
Number of Locations: 125
In 2017, Kevin Durant invested in fast-casual pizza chain, Pieology. Similar to Blaze Pizza, Pieology is another pizza brand that has adopted the assembly-line style made famous by Chipotle. As part of the agreement, Durant will also own a few franchise locations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Dwayne Wade + Udonis Haslem, 800 Degrees Wood-Fired Kitchen
Number of Locations: 14
In 2018, Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem invested in fast-casual pizza chain, 800° Wood-fired Kitchen. The West-coast based concept is known for it’s customizable pizza, but also serves craveable rotisserie meats, healthy salads, and wood-fired appetizers. As part of the agreement, Wade and Udonis bought opened a franchise in South Florida and will serve as brand ambassadors for the pizza chain.