At 22 years old, Luka Dončić has a Rookie of the Year award, a $32.5 million NBA contract, and now, after partnering with BioSteel, his first equity investment.

BioSteel, which makes sports drinks, protein powders, and other products, announced the multiyear deal on Tuesday.

Dončić was introduced to the product as a consumer, as BioSteel sponsors his Dallas Mavericks. Before he got involved on the business side, he reached out to a friend who also has an equity stake in BioSteel.

“I asked Pat Mahomes,” Dončić told Front Office Sports. “We talk sometimes.” The young stars got to know each other around two years ago after Mahomes came to a Mavs game.

After the quarterback vouched for BioSteel, Dončić initiated contact. The result is a deal that, in addition to equity, makes the MVP candidate BioSteel’s Global Chief Hydration Officer, which Dončić made official on LinkedIn.

“Our partnerships with top-tier athletes such as Luka Doncic and Patrick Mahomes, along with our NBA team deals and recent partnership with U.S. Soccer, allow us to tell our unique story,” said BioSteel co-founder and co-CEO Michael Cammalleri.

Dončić is also sponsored by Jordan Brand after inking a five-year deal in December 2019. Matthew Kay, who represents Dončić, said that he is fielding inquiries on Dončić from companies around the globe.

As for future investments, Dončić plans to stick with products and people he trusts. One of them is the guy who pays his salary.

“I want to learn from Mark,” he said, referring to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. “He’s a great investor.”

DAZN signaled its plans for expansion by bringing in former Disney executive and TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer as Chairman of the Board.

Mayer, who oversaw the acquisitions of Pixar, LucasFilm, and Marvel Studios at Disney, has his eyes on growing DAZN’s presence in Europe and Asia.

“Since I began working with [DAZN parent company] Access Industries last year, I’ve been impressed with DAZN’s ambitions and ability to quickly grow from a new entrant to an important player in key markets throughout the world,” Mayer said.

The sports streamer now has a presence in over 200 countries and has recently made a push in the European soccer market.

• DAZN appears to be the frontrunner to acquire Serie A’s broadcast rights.
• In August, DAZN agreed to a new sublicensing deal with Discovery to broadcast Bundesliga matches.

Mayer said he was drawn to DAZN because he believes that streaming is the future of sports media. 

“I think that’s where everything is ultimately headed,” he said.

Mayer’s predecessor, John Skipper, will remain on the board but turn most of his attention to Meadowlark Media, a politically progressive sports media company he is launching with former ESPN personality Dan LeBatard. DAZN intends to invest in and collaborate with Meadowlark on original programming projects.

As part of All-Star 2021, the NBA and its partners will donate more than $3 million to support HBCUs and communities of color disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. 

Donations will go through four organizations: Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, National Association of Equal Opportunity, and Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity.

All-Star Game teams will compete for either the UNCF or TMCF, with an initial $500,000 donation to each organization. Another $1.75 million will be donated between the two organizations based on in-game incentives. 

• For every assist, State Farm will donate $1,900 to the UNCF.
• For every dunk, AT&T will donate “5Gs,” or $5,000, to the TMCF.
• AT&T will send $50,000 to an HBCU represented by each Dunk Contest participant, and $100,000 to the winner.
• Taco Bell will donate an initial $35,000 to each of the six HBCUs represented by Skills Challenge participants, and an additional $40,000 to the winner.
• In the 3-Point Contest, MTN DEW will award two students $100,000 through a scholarship fund, $3,500 for every successful “Moneyball” make and $5,000 for every “MTN DEW Zone” make.

Though HBCUs account for 20% of the country’s Black graduates, they make up only 3% of all United States colleges. 

COVID impacted these institutions dramatically, as funding and enrollments dropped significantly. These All-Star initiatives are part of an effort to help alleviate those losses.