Back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has crossed into football ownership, with Atlético de Madrid confirming on Thursday that the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar has joined the Spanish club's ownership group.
The announcement, made through the club's official channels on Thursday afternoon, marks one of the highest-profile crossovers between North American basketball and European football in recent memory. Gilgeous-Alexander, 28, is the reigning two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and led the Thunder to the 2025 NBA championship, where he was also named Finals MVP.
A lifelong football fan joins the Rojiblancos
The partnership is grounded in shared values, according to the club: ambition, excellence and the belief that every result must be earned. "I'm excited to officially join Atlético de Madrid's ownership group," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "This is a club with a long-standing presence at the top of European football, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future."
Gilgeous-Alexander is no casual observer of the game. In a GQ fan Q&A last year he said: "If I could, I would play soccer. Soccer is my first sport." He has been spotted wearing Atlético's famous red-and-white colours on multiple occasions, and Sportsnet reported that he is a known supporter of the club.
His football connections run even deeper. The Canadian guard has a documented friendship with Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior, who attended an Oklahoma City Thunder game in December 2023 to support him. Now, in a twist of fate, Gilgeous-Alexander will be associated with Real Madrid's fiercest local rivals.
What the numbers say
Atlético are getting an athlete at the absolute peak of his powers. During the 2025-26 NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the field, becoming the first guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points on 55 percent shooting or better. He also broke the NBA record for most consecutive regular-season games with at least 20 points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's 126-game mark and extending his own streak to 140 by season's end.
"Beyond the numbers, his ability to perform under pressure and commitment to constant growth align with Atlético de Madrid's values of intensity, pride and ambition," the club said in its statement. "His investment reflects an interest in the club's long-term vision and international growth."
New era of ownership at the Metropolitano
Gilgeous-Alexander's arrival comes as Atlético undergo a transformation off the pitch. American asset management company Apollo Sports Capital became the club's majority shareholder earlier this year after their investment deal closed in March, valuing the club at a reported €2.5 billion.
The terms of Gilgeous-Alexander's own investment have not been disclosed, and USA Today reported that the club announcement did not say how much the Thunder star had put in. But his profile brings something money cannot buy: a global audience of basketball fans and a genuine affinity for the club that predates the deal.
The move also fits a broader trend of elite athletes taking equity stakes in European football. Atlético, founded in 1903 and winners of 11 La Liga titles, play their home games at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and remain one of Europe's most competitive sides under Diego Simeone, with stars like Julián Álvarez leading the line and January targets such as Noni Madueke on the radar.
Beyond the Final Whistle: The NBA-to-La Liga pipeline is officially open. Gilgeous-Alexander's arrival at Atlético de Madrid is a statement of intent from a club thinking globally, and it will be fascinating to see whether other basketball superstars follow him into European football ownership. Do you think more NBA stars will buy into football clubs, or is this a one-off? Let us know in the comments.
