Kevin Durant’s company, Boardroom, has issued a response following sudden editorial layoffs that left many staff members shocked and raised questions about the company’s direction. The layoffs, which occurred recently, involved the removal of the full-time editorial team, stirring concern across the sports and media communities.
Boardroom Responds to Cuts in Editorial Personnel
On Saturday morning, Huffington Post Deputy Editor Phil Lewis reported via X that Boardroom, the sports, media, and entertainment company co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, had dismissed its entire full-time editorial staff without warning. Employees affected lost access to their accounts before they could export their contacts. One laid-off writer challenged the company’s description of the layoffs, emphasizing that they were the only full-time editorial staff on the team.
In response to the news, Boardroom released a statement addressing these changes. The company described itself as a non-traditional media brand that has recently expanded its range of content and events and explained that it is now refocusing on key areas expected to have the greatest impact on both the brand and its community.
As part of this evolution, we’ve made this decision to part ways with three writers. This was a focused change affecting a small number of roles as we double down on original video content, expand our flagship experiential moments, and invest in our members club.
Shortly after, Rich Kleiman, Boardroom’s co-founder and CEO, addressed the situation on LinkedIn, expressing frustration at misinformation surrounding the layoffs and underscoring the difficulty of making personnel decisions while emphasizing the company’s strong position.
It’s unfortunate I have to even write this, but all the false reporting of a business that i work too hard on has forced me to. Any change is hard, especially when it’s people i care deeply about. But part of growing a business is having to make difficult decisions. Boardroom is in the best place it’s ever been, and there is no way anyone can’t see that. For everyone who wrote some irresponsible headlines, I ask that you try to do better. In the end you and your work will be better off.
Overview of Boardroom’s Mission and Recent Achievements
Founded in 2019, Boardroom focuses on the intersection of sports and entertainment, providing premium video and audio content alongside newsletters that highlight how athletes, executives, musicians, and creators are shaping the business world. The company also organizes B2B events and experiential moments, such as its notable NBA and WNBA All-Star gatherings.
Boardroom’s activities extend into ticketed conferences including Game Plan, developed in partnership with CNBC, while its advisory services connect athletes, brands, and executives with a wider professional network and initiatives.
The brand has been involved in high-profile projects like NYC Point Gods, a feature-length documentary co-produced with Showtime, which earned a 2023 Emmy nomination from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Its other notable works include Two Distant Strangers, an Academy Award-winning short film on Netflix, and Swagger, a scripted television series streaming on Apple TV+.
Operating within the umbrella of Boardroom Sports Holdings, the company has become a significant business venture for Durant, simultaneously investing in emerging professional sports leagues including pickleball, men’s and women’s soccer, and formerly supporting a minor league hockey team.
Implications and Future Outlook for Boardroom
The recent layoffs mark a strategic pivot for Boardroom as it reduces its editorial workforce to invest more heavily in video content and experiential projects, signaling a shift in content delivery and audience engagement. This restructuring reflects ongoing challenges in the media industry, especially for niche brands attempting to balance digital content creation with expanding experiential events.
With Durant and Kleiman steering the company, their focus on original video content and members-only club experiences aims to strengthen Boardroom’s market position. The company’s evolution will likely influence how other sports-entertainment media brands adapt to changing consumption patterns and business models.
A spokesperson for Boardroom just sent this to me: https://t.co/nbyV6nLkKG pic.twitter.com/OHJq3eA1vX
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 21, 2026
