Houston Rockets superstar James Harden is branching out into the world of soccer.
The shooting guard won’t be joining the Dynamo during the summer as a fearsome goal scorer or a cat-like goalie, but rather as a partner in the MLS franchise’s ownership group. The exact percentage of his share in the team has not been made public.
The primary owner of the Texas franchise is Gabriel Brener, who is known as being the only Mexican-born professional sports owner in the United States. Legendary boxer Oscar de la Hoya is also a member of the Dynamo membership group.
Harden, who was traded from Oklahoma City Thunder to Houston in October of 2012, has blossomed into a global sports icon during his tenure in the city. He has finished as the NBA’s top scorer in the past two seasons and also won the 2018 NBA MVP Award.
When asked about his decision to join the Dynamo ownership group, Harden focused his answer on his desire to be joined with the Houston community. He explained, “Houston is my home now, and I saw this as a way to invest in my city and expand my business interests at the same time. Soccer in general, and especially MLS, have exploded in this country throughout my lifetime. I’ve been a fan of the game for several years, and I know that Houston has a massive soccer fanbase, so it was an easy decision for me when this opportunity arose.”
Now, he’ll have the opportunity to branch out his influence in sports to a whole new league.
