This NBA Rookie of the Year has just become a soccer team owner originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
An NBA Rookie of the Year is already thinking beyond the hardwood—and now, he’s officially stepped into team ownership.
According to NBC News, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, fresh off a standout debut season that earned him NBA Rookie of the Year honors, has joined the ownership group of CT United, a new soccer franchise competing in MLS Next Pro. The move makes Castle one of the youngest active NBA players to invest in a professional sports team, and it comes less than a year after completing his first season in the league.
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Castle’s entry into ownership materialized quickly. During his rookie campaign, his agent and family introduced him to an opportunity spearheaded by entrepreneur Andre Swanston, who is building CT United from the ground up. The Connecticut-based club launched its inaugural season this month, with Castle coming on board as a minority stakeholder. While the exact size of his investment has not been disclosed, the deal became official in December.
The decision reflects a growing trend among NBA players expanding their influence into global soccer. High-profile names such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have all taken ownership stakes in clubs over the past decade. However, Castle’s timing stands out. Unlike those veterans, he made his move at just 21, while still on his rookie contract, signaling an early focus on long-term financial and professional positioning.
Castle said the opportunity aligned with both personal and professional connections. “Everything kind of happened fast from there,” he said, noting his ties to Connecticut after winning an NCAA championship with UConn. He added that joining a team at its inception and maintaining a connection to the state played a major role in his decision.
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CT United’s ownership group is also notable for its emphasis on diversity. Swanston is among a small number of Black majority owners in North American professional sports, and the club has prioritized local identity—launching a free youth academy and planning a future stadium in Bridgeport. The team will play games across Connecticut this season as it builds its presence statewide.