Kevin Durant has finally regained access to his Coinbase account, resolving a years-long issue that had left the NBA star separated from his early bitcoin holdings.
Coinbase confirmed the account recovery in a statement to Decrypt on Thursday. The development came after Durant’s longtime business partner and agent, Rich Kleiman, joked earlier this week about the account troubles during CNBC’s Game Plan conference in Los Angeles.
Kleiman clarified that the issue was the result of a simple user error rather than a problem with the platform itself. “Our partnership spans nearly a decade, and Coinbase has been a valuable resource in growing our business,” he said.
Durant’s crypto involvement dates back to his move to the Bay Area in the mid-2010s. According to The Sports Rush, the two-time NBA champion first purchased bitcoin after attending a dinner hosted by venture capitalist Ben Horowitz, using Coinbase as the exchange.
For years, Durant and Kleiman admitted they had lost track of the account credentials. With bitcoin now trading at more than $116,000, that forgotten purchase ballooned in value, potentially making the investment worth tens of millions.
Durant has been among the NBA’s most active players in business. Through his company Thirty Five Ventures, he has invested in multiple startups, including Coinbase itself, highlighting his early bet on the crypto industry.
The account recovery underscores the risks that came with being an early adopter of cryptocurrency. It also reflects Durant’s status as one of the league’s most forward-thinking athletes off the court.
On the court, Durant remains productive deep into his career. The 36-year-old forward averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games for the Phoenix Suns during the 2024–25 season before being traded to the Houston Rockets in July as part of a seven-team blockbuster deal.
He also became the eighth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points in February 2025, cementing his place among the game’s all-time great scorers.
With his Coinbase account now back under control, Durant has secured access to both his financial and basketball legacies, continuing to build on a résumé that stretches across sports and business.
