Many people would say that horse racing and basketball seem worlds apart, but for some NBA athletes, horse racing is the perfect hobby. It is very difficult to explain to people who are not into horses. It is a passion that drives you every day, and being around such animals gives you that relaxed feeling and a feeling of adrenaline (especially in the races) that you cannot get even in an All-Star NBA game.
That’s why many NBA players have a secret (and some not-so-secret) passion for horse racing. Yes, many of them attend popular events like the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn’t mean that they are true horse racing fans. Some of them do that only for networking purposes since such events attract many high-net-worth individuals.
But some NBA athletes went deep into the horse racing industry, and they are not only casual spectators but also invested in the sport, bought their own stable, and even got their own racehorses.
Let’s go through the list of NBA players that have shown interest in horse racing.
Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokic AKA the Joker is one of the funniest characters in the league. And for him, it is not strange to see that he has other passions apart from playing basketball. After all, from all the post-game interviews we can assume that he is forced to play basketball, and he is far happier on the racetrack.
The Denver Nuggets’ towering center is a three-time NBA MVP (2021, 2022, and 2023) and 2023 Finals Champ, but basketball is his second passion.
He grew up in Sombor, Serbia, and he spent most of his free time playing basketball and around the stables, which was a passion sparked by his father who took him to the local races.
Jokić stated that he has been hooked on horse racing since childhood, and after getting success (and money) in the NBA he bought his first racehorse, Dream Catcher, in 2016, which was his rookie NBA season.
As you probably assume, at this point, Jokić has half a dozen Standardbreds for harness racing back home.
He is so passionate about horses that before he didn’t celebrate the Nuggets’ 2023 championship, as he was quick to go back to Serbia just not to miss a horse race there.
His buddy, Hall of Fame harness racer Tim Tetrick, told NBA.com in January 2024 that Jokić once made his teammates wait three hours after a Philly game to hang out at Jersey stables.
We can also see Jokić riding horses, which is quite strange since he weighs a lot and is quite tall.
Tony Parker
Tony Parker, the retired San Antonio Spurs point guard, swapped four NBA titles (2003, 2005, 2007, 2013) for a new court: the racetrack. Unlike Jokić, Parker’s love for horses bloomed later, post-retirement in 2019.
He founded Infinity Nine Horses, a stable that’s made waves in Thoroughbred racing, per a 2024 Dunkest feature. His star filly, Ramatuelle, trained by Christopher Head, has been included in every horse racing betting app as it competed in top European events, and Parker’s been spotted trackside globally, from France to the U.S.
A 2022 Knup Sports piece notes he’s co-produced a documentary, The Big Bet, with Equidia to spotlight his journey, aiming to “modernize” racing for new fans—not for profit, but passion.
Parker, who racked up 19,473 career points, told interviewers he’s chasing the same thrill he felt on the hardwood. His stable’s social media buzz proves he’s all in.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan, the six-time NBA champ and arguably the GOAT, doesn’t just dominate basketball lore—he’s got a hoof in racing, too. After retiring in 2003, he turned his entrepreneurial eye to horses, co-owning Thoroughbreds through partnerships.
A standout? Knicks Go, named partly after his Chicago Bulls’ “Knicks” rivalry, per a 2024 Mountain West Wire article. Knicks Go nabbed the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic and was Horse of the Year, earning over $8.5 million.
Jordan’s been photographed at the Kentucky Derby—132nd and 133rd editions, per Hoop Heads Podcast—but keeps it low-profile. He’s less about the spotlight here than business savvy, also co-owning NASCAR’s 23XI Racing. His racing involvement is more investment than obsession, but he’s still a player in the game.
Rex Chapman
Rex Chapman, a 12-year NBA vet known for his Phoenix Suns stint, grew up with horse racing in his blood—literally. Hailing from Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of the Derby, he told The Sports Room in 2022 that it was inevitable: “Horse racing runs in the blood of the locals.”
After retiring in 2000 with 9,731 career points, he dove into ownership, investing in multiple horses.
Santa Anita honored him with the Rex Chapman Stakes in 2012, per Hoop Heads. But his enthusiasm’s tempered by past struggles—he’s admitted to Gamblers Anonymous stints for betting too hard as a young fan, per the same podcast.
Now, he’s more spectator than gambler, a regular Derby attendee soaking in his home state’s vibe.
LeBron James
LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer as of 2023, doesn’t own horses (yet), but he’s a trackside fixture. A 2023 Dribble Media report cites his frequent Kentucky Derby appearances, soaking up the scene with his four MVP swagger.
There are no public records of LeBron investing in horse racing, only speculation that he purchased shares in a horse named Bronny Breeze, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet.
LeBron’s competitive streak shines here—he’s told pals he wants winners, mirroring his 20-year Lakers/Cavs/Heat reign. His enthusiasm’s more casual than Jokić’s, but those Derby trips show he’s hooked on the rush.
So, it is not so strange to see NBA athletes interested in horse racing after all. There are many that opened their own stables and invested their NBA-earned money into the horse racing industry.
