Despite Being Worth $28M, Kendrick Perkins Announces $200M Deal to Aid Student-Athletes

Kendrick Perkins’ journey from the hardwood to the boardroom is as remarkable as his 14-season NBA career. However, apart from his on-court achievements, the former center has done a lot as an NBA analyst for ESPN and also through his business ventures and he continues to do so. Let’s see how.

The 39-year-old, boasting a net worth of $28 million, had co-founded an investment platform called NILLY along with Edly founder Chris Ricciardi in February. Today, however, the former Celtics player announced a piece of great news through his Instagram, as he wrote, “Blessed to announce as the Co-Owner/ Ambassador of @nilly.us that we’ve made a powerful move with a collaboration with Harlan Capital Partners earmarks up to $200 million dollars!!!”

The $200 million deal between NILLY and Harlan Capitals represents a seismic shift in the landscape of collegiate athletics. The timing of this deal is particularly significant as it comes just three years after the NCAA’s landmark decision to profile based on their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

NILLY was made to offer a comprehensive suite of services to student-athletes, including brand management, social media strategy, and financial literacy education. By leveraging Perkins’ extensive network in both the sports and entertainment industries, the company aims to connect athletes with lucrative endorsement deals and sponsorship opportunities so that they can carry on with their sports and studies without being worried about money. “NILLY attempts to solve a critical challenge for student-athletes, providing them with a clear path to tap into their true NIL earnings potential and the resources needed to maximize their success,” said Chris Ricciardi.

The only reason Perkins gave for starting this initiative was to set a true example. According to him, he had to quickly become a pro player of the game when he was selected straight from high school so that he could support himself financially. He didn’t get the chance to make the most of college basketball since he had a lot of responsibilities. He doesn’t want the younger generation to go through such problems, so he came up with the idea of starting this platform. “As true partners in their success, NILLY will open the doors to the opportunities I wish I had,” stated Perkins.

This $200 million deal represents more than just a business opportunity; it’s a chance to reshape the future of students. But did you know about Perkin’s other business venture?

Another unique business venture of Kendrick Perkins

Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has added a new dimension to his post-basketball career: dog breeding. Specifically, he has delved into the lucrative world of French Bulldog breeding, building a multimillion-dollar business centered on these adorable pups.

In 2018 Perkin’s brother-in-law approached him with a unique business idea of dog breeding. Despite being a dog lover, Perkins was initially not a fan of this idea. But everything changed when his brother-in-law acquired two French bulldogs which gave birth to a litter of puppies. All those puppies were sold for $60,000. “I was like ‘OK, you really getting money right now,” said Perkins as per the New York Post. Now the business has grown up to be a major brand by the name Big League Exotics. The founders of this brand include Perkins, his brother-in-law Alpough, an entrepreneur named Dung Nguyen, and another businessman named John Shenkir.

The reason it is said to be a major brand is because BLE currently has 42 dogs and has made a cumulative sale amount of $4 million to $5 million. The success of Perkins’ Frenchie business is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and his passion for animals.

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.