Pistons star Cade Cunningham has purchased a minority ownership stake in his hometown Texas Rangers, adding a new dimension to his connection with Arlington, Texas. The 24-year-old NBA All-Star confirmed the investment to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Cunningham, who was born and raised in Arlington, home of the Rangers’ Globe Life Field. Despite his meteoric rise in basketball that took him from Arlington Bowie High School to Montverde Academy, Oklahoma State, and eventually the NBA, Cunningham has maintained strong ties to his Texas roots.
“It was an amazing experience,” Cunningham said last July after throwing out the first pitch at a Rangers game. “To come back to the sports teams that I grew up supporting and loving, it’s amazing.”
The investment comes through Sportsology Capital Partners, though financial details of the stake weren’t disclosed. Cunningham joins an ownership group that includes some notable figures — former President George W. Bush and baseball legend Nolan Ryan are among the team’s minority stakeholders.
Rising NBA Star, New MLB Owner
At just 24, Cunningham is already making waves in his fourth NBA season. The 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick is averaging an impressive 25.3 points, 9.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game this season for Detroit. He’s set to make his second NBA All-Star Game appearance, cementing his status as one of the league’s brightest young talents.
Why would a young NBA star invest in baseball? Beyond hometown pride, the move represents a growing trend of athletes diversifying their portfolios through sports ownership. Cunningham secured a massive $269 million contract with the Pistons, providing the financial foundation for such investments.
The timing couldn’t be better for Cunningham to join the Rangers’ ownership group. The franchise is enjoying a period of success after winning the World Series in 2023, their first championship in team history.
Cunningham’s investment was publicly announced through ESPN reporter Shams Charania, who tweeted: “Detroit Pistons All-Star and Arlington, Texas native Cade Cunningham has purchased a minority ownership stake of his hometown MLB team, the Texas Rangers, he told ESPN.”
Though Cunningham’s basketball career has taken him to Detroit, his Arlington roots remain strong. The former Bowie High School standout has maintained connections to the community where he grew up, even as his NBA career has flourished.
For Rangers fans, having a hometown NBA All-Star join the ownership group adds another layer of local pride to a franchise that has become increasingly prominent in recent years. And for Cunningham, it’s a chance to invest not just in a business opportunity, but in the team he grew up cheering for as a kid in Arlington.
