Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal have been masters of the game for a long time, both making impressive investments in food-related businesses. Who would dare challenge these NBA giants, who continue to make waves in the industry with their thriving enterprises? Perhaps another NBA player? Former NBA star Kevin Johnson is set to go up against the NBA giants with his new endeavor.

Recently, Kevin Johnson ventured into the food industry, which is understandable given his responsibilities as the mayor of Sacramento. In 2018, he opened a restaurant called Fixins Soul Kitchen. After starting with one location in Sacramento, he has expanded to three other stores in Los Angeles, Tulsa, and Detroit. He plans to open ten more in cities including Harlem, NY; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Denver, CO; and Oakland, CA.

The inspiration behind these ventures is equally special, as the dishes reflect what he and his wife, Michelle, loved during their travels. However, he must not forget that he has strong rivals in this 1 trillion worth restaurant business world.

“I grew up in Oak Park, so that was the poor part of the city of Sacramento, and like every city around the country, it was the underserved community. I wanted to do our first Fixins in that neighborhood to prove that we could be successful in the neighborhood I grew up in,” the NBA legend told Eater. While he may have a good reason to prove his point, his rivals in this league are also prepared and only moving ahead every day.

How strong are Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal?

Shaq’s inspiration has been simple: he’s a big foodie. He’s driven by both his passion for providing good food and his desire to run a successful business. Over the years, he has teamed up with various brands, such as Papa John’s, as a brand ambassador. In 2018, he launched his ‘Big Chicken’ franchise, and since then, he has continued to expand its presence. Currently, it boasts 18 outlets, with plans to open more in the future.

And who can forget Magic Johnson’s deal with Burger King? The plan was to open 30 new outlets across America. However, Johnson’s most notable deal was with Starbucks. He formed the partnership in 1998 and owned 125 franchises. In 2010, he sold 105 of them back to the company. While O’Neal may hold the lead here, the Los Angeles Lakers legend is not far behind.

Considering the success Johnson achieved in just a few years, perhaps Magic and O’Neal will also want to keep a close eye on him.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger