Thursday, July 23, 2026

Overtime Raises $80M from Drake, Bezos, and Others

  • Overtime raised $80 million from Drake, Jeff Bezos, and others in a Series C round.
  • The company targets a young audience through social and digital media channels.
drake_holding_basketball
Drake/Design: Alex Brooks

Overtime raised $80 million in a Series C round and is now valued around $250 million.

The company’s investors could form a competitive NBA team: Devin Booker, Klay Thompson, and Pau Gasol were among 25 current and former NBA players to participate in the latest funding round. They join previous investors Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.

The round also brought in Jeff Bezos, Drake, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and was led by Sapphire Sport and Black Capital.

Overtime produces content for all of the leading social platforms, meeting its audience — 88% under 35 — where they are.

Overtime also recently announced a new basketball league: Overtime Elite, which will pay top high school players at least $100,000 a year plus insurance benefits and allow them to profit off their name and image — a stark contrast to the NCAA. 

The league, comprised of around 30 rising high school juniors and seniors, will also function as a high school, providing classes to work toward a diploma.

However, joining Overtime Elite means forgoing traditional high school or college basketball.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Trump-Backed College Sports Bill Faces Hurdles As Deadline Nears

If it doesn’t pass the Senate by August, it could be dead.
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) dribbles the ball against the UCF Knights in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena

New NCAA Eligibility Policy Hasn’t Slowed Lawsuits—It’s Triggered More

“I’m getting five emails per minute from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation with Chris Bosh on LeBron’s Next Team, Athlete Contract Taxes, and Returning to Court for Charity

0:00

Featured Today

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
ATLANTA, GA - September 05: Georgia Lottery fireworks after the game against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
July 2, 2026

Inside the Spectacle and Science of MLB Fireworks

Postgame fireworks are lighting up baseball for America250.
Kansas City Chiefs
July 1, 2026

NFL Teams Push to Turn Futbol Fans Into Football Devotees

NFL teams are courting international soccer fans during their World Cup visits.
Jul 22, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Connecticut Sun forward Diamond Miller (1) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

USA Today Updates Caitlin Clark Column After Backlash

Armour’s column was “clearly labeled as Opinion,” USA Today tells FOS.
Bussin' With The Boys Josh Pate
Exclusive
July 23, 2026

ESPN to Launch CFB Show With Josh Pate, ‘BWTB’ Hosts

The show will air on Fridays.
July 23, 2026

Peacock Turns Profit 6 Years After Launch—With World Cup Bump

The streaming service reached a long-awaited “milestone.”
Sponsored

Inside the EY 2026 Sports Engagement Index: The Real Map of American Sports Participation

EY’s latest index explores how shifting U.S. fan behaviors are expanding the definition of sports engagement.
July 23, 2026

Will World Cup Lead to More Afternoon Games?

The historic World Cup success shows a new approach to scheduling.
Jul 19, 2026; Southport, ENG; Ryan Fox holds the Claret Jug after winning the The Open Championship golf tournament, as he is interviewed by NBC’s Mike Tiroco at Royal Birkdale.
July 22, 2026

All Four Golf Majors Saw TV Ratings Spike This Year

Sunday was The Open’s most-watched final round since 2022.
July 22, 2026

Trail Blazers Slash Broadcast Team As Dundon Keeps Cutting Costs

The majority of Portland’s broadcast team has been laid off.
Cam Newton and Ryan Clark share a laugh during ESPN First Take at Bethune-Cookman University during the show’s HBCU fall tour, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
July 22, 2026

5 Takeaways From ESPN’s Latest Layoffs

Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, and Karl Ravech were among those laid off.