NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters as a shareholder of Atlético de Madrid: “I am excited, I appreciate the opportunity”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Toronto, 28 years old), one of the biggest stars in the NBA, champion of the competition two seasons ago with the Oklahoma City Thunder, MVP of the best basketball league that year and also the next (2025 and 2026), joined Atlético de Madrid this Thursday as a shareholder. This was announced by the mattress club itself in a statement, although without revealing the percentage of shares purchased by the athlete.

"I am excited to officially join the group of shareholders of Atlético de Madrid. This is a club with a long history at the top of European football, and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of its future," said the player, who is currently in the middle of the NBA preseason. His team will start the official competition on October 20 (early morning of the 21st in Spain) in a match against the San Antonio Spurs.

"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the club as a shareholder. The player has identified with the values ​​of Atlético de Madrid, such as ambition, excellence and the conviction that every achievement must be earned with effort," says the red and white club's statement.

On March 12, Apollo Sports Capital, the global sports investment company of the American fund Apollo, formalized and completed its entry as majority shareholder and new owner of Atlético de Madrid. The club then approved a new board of directors of 11 members - five appointed by Apollo -, to which former footballer David Villa joined, and a capital increase of up to 100 million euros, according to the entity. Since then, the club has continued to be chaired by Enrique Cerezo and has Miguel Ángel Gil as CEO. The operation was ratified at the Extraordinary General Meeting held at the Riyadh Air Metropolitan stadium, following the agreement announced on November 10, 2025.

Born in Toronto in 1998 and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spent his career in Canada before spending a season at the University of Kentucky. He is currently the key piece of the Oklahoma City Thunder and one of the most outstanding players in global basketball. Last season he averaged 31.1 points per game with 55.3% shooting from the field, becoming the first outside player in NBA history to average at least 30 points with 55% or more shooting. He also reached the 30-point barrier and 50% shooting for the fourth consecutive season, a feat that only Michael Jordan has matched among outside players. He broke the NBA record for most consecutive regular season games scoring at least 20 points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's mark of 126 games, and extended his streak to 140 by the end of the season.

"Beyond the statistics, his ability to perform under pressure and his commitment to constant evolution fit with Atlético de Madrid's values ​​of intensity, pride and ambition. His investment reflects a genuine interest in the long-term vision of our club and its international growth," Atlético congratulates.