I remember just when Andre sign with the Warriors and you know all the

relationships that just came from you know that and from from initially just being in the valley and all the education that I was getting

and all the access that we're getting, but also understanding what it meant as well, right?

So it's not just being there it's

actually activating as well it's education learning and I thought to myself first

and foremost I was usually the only African American in the room, you know, and I still am for the most part.

Secondly, it was also, it'd be so interesting, this is so powerful and I see exactly where

it's going. It'd be so interesting if more athletes and more people had access to this.

The new off-court play for NBA Stars is startup equity, and potentially ownership in teams and leagues.

Today's guest is a friend. He's an entrepreneur and partner of the athlete tech summit

I've attended in San Francisco over the past two summers, Rudy Klein Thomas.

Rudy and his business partner Andrea Gondala have reinvented the modern athletes over the last decade,

and let's face it, the NBA and their athletes are not only at the forefront of sports

competition across all sports and entertainment, but they're leading trends in

pop culture and now venture investing. And after years of hard work in learning

the business of sports and athlete representation, Rudy has become

the source of advice and mentorship for pro athletes, especially in the MBA, looking to break into

early stage investing. His network includes some of the most successful CEOs and VCs in the

Valley as well as star athletes like Andre, Neymar, and David Beckham to name a few.

On the show we discussed how he forged a whole new role inside the sports industry,

I couldala's initial challenge, which led to his career taking off,

and his advice to folks looking to work professionally in sports.

...