More current and former athletes are using LinkedIn to capitalize on their personal brands and business opportunities.
Tracy McGrady
On Wednesday, July 8, NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady formally introduced himself on the platform, acknowledging that he hadn’t been an active user prior to that. He has had an account for nearly eight months, posting occasional updates, including news about his role as chief innovation officer at huupe, the company behind a smart basketball hoop, as well as the return of the Ones Basketball League he founded.
In a recent reintroduction post, he gave a more detailed look at his work since retiring from his 16-year playing career. His efforts include serving as a minority owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, co-hosting the “Cousins” podcast, working as a studio analyst for NBA on NBCUniversal, and serving as a strategic adviser to Wagner College men’s basketball, all while being the father of four children.
“They’re the reason I think so much about ownership, legacy, and generational wealth. Basketball gave me opportunities I never imagined. My responsibility now is to turn those opportunities into something that outlives me and creates options for my children and, hopefully, for generations after them,” he explained on LinkedIn.
McGrady said he plans to keep the LinkedIn community updated on what he’s building and learning.
McGrady will also leverage the platform to connect with those across sports, media, investing, and business.
Jalen Brunson
McGrady joins a growing list of athletes who are being more intentional on the social media platform. This includes Jalen Brunson, the 2026 NBA Finals MVP. He has been using the platform for three years. Even after winning the NBA championship with the New York Knicks, Brunson shared his gratitude on the platform, stating that the fans, city, and organization allowed him to maintain the belief that “your dreams are possible.” He said he is making sure that spirit of possibility lives on through the Second Round Foundation, which supports the youth through education and sports.
“I also look forward to continuing to support other people’s dreams through my work with the Second Round Foundation, where our mission is helping young people determine their own success no matter where they come from. It is important to me to support the under-resourced, under-represented, and under-estimated, and to ensure that they have the tools, guidance, and belief they need to achieve their dreams,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
Brunson primarily leverages the platform to share updates on his foundation, which most recently hosted the Jalen Brunson Youth Basketball Camp at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL.
Brunson also shares business milestones on the platform, announcing his partnership with Just Salad as an equity owner, marking the company’s first-ever athlete partnership; filming his podcast, “Roommates Show,” at Villanova University; signing a partnership with BODYARMOR Sports Drink; and being named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2025.
DeAndre Hopkins
While Brunson often uses LinkedIn to highlight his foundation and business partnerships, NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has turned the platform into a place to discuss investing and entrepreneurship. He has highlighted investments in companies such as Beyond Meat, which he invested in before its 2019 IPO.
“It went public and took off … Plenty of people called it a fad. I looked at it differently,” he wrote. “I saw where food was heading, and a brand people would actually get attached to. That’s become my whole approach. I bet on consumer brands I believe regular people will love, not just the ones that look good on paper. It’s why I got into Zico, into OLIPOP, into a coffee startup called Diamond Brew that most people haven’t heard of yet.”
Hopkins noted in a LinkedIn post that he is looking for consumer brands that people won’t stop raving about and encouraged people to reach out if they fit those criteria.
He’s also shared lessons from his journey, including his decision not to have someone else manage his money. He chose to study finance at Clemson University to learn how to do it himself, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.
In the same post, he revealed that he is also working to build his own fund, which aligns with his interest in connecting with consumer brands.
Spencer Jones
Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones offers another example, using LinkedIn to document his growing interest in investing and technology. He said that instead of focusing on NBA Draft Day, when many people were tuned in, he attended Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. That experience led him to become a partner and investor in Robot.com, a company developing autonomous AI robots that can interact with people at events, venues, and activations, he said.
“They wanted a contributor, advisor, and connector. Someone who could help introduce new use cases across sports, events, venues, and brand partnerships,” Jones wrote on LinkedIn. “One of the best parts of Cannes wasn’t just seeing where marketing is headed. It was leaving with the opportunity to help build it.”
At Cannes Lions, he also served as a speaker on a panel hosted by LinkedIn that included Carmelo Anthony. The conversation centered on what B2B marketers can learn from how athletes build and nurture attention, trust, and belief.
His commentary helps explain why a growing number of athletes are sharing their journeys on the platform.
“Too many brands only show up for the announcement, the partnership, or the campaign results,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “But if there’s no context behind it, there’s nothing to hold onto. Attention isn’t enough. Consumers need to know your reputation. So if you missed the panel, here’s the main point: Stop marketing the outcome. Start documenting the journey. That’s why I’m on this platform.”
