Before reaching the NBA and winning a championship, Pat Connaughton was a highly successful baseball player in high school and college. During his senior year in Massachusetts, he posted an impressive 11-2 record with a 1.75 ERA and struck out 160 batters over 90 innings. He earned the MVP award at the 2010 state baseball tournament, highlighting his dominance on the mound.
Connaughton’s baseball skills were so notable that he received an offer to join the New York Yankees at just 17 years old. However, he declined and chose to attend Notre Dame, aiming to continue competing in both basketball and baseball. He explained that he didn’t want to
put all of his eggs in one basket
by focusing exclusively on one sport so early in his life.
Balancing Baseball and Basketball at Notre Dame
Despite being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Connaughton stuck to his decision to pursue both sports in college. At Notre Dame, he played on both the baseball and basketball teams, compiling an 11-11 record and a 3.03 ERA over 154.2 innings. In his senior year, he focused solely on basketball, appearing in all 139 games of his collegiate career.
On the basketball court, Connaughton’s endurance and skill helped lead Notre Dame to its first-ever ACC Tournament title in 2015. That season, he averaged 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 42.5 percent from three-point range, showing his all-around athleticism and resilience.
Short-Lived Baseball Career and Crucial Financial Decision
After his junior year, Connaughton was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and played briefly for their low-A affiliate, the Aberdeen IronBirds. Over two months, he recorded a 0-1 record and a 2.45 ERA before deciding to return to Notre Dame for his senior basketball season.
One of the most significant outcomes of his brief baseball career was the $428,000 signing bonus from the Orioles. Rather than spending the money immediately, Connaughton heeded advice from his father, Leonard Connaughton, to invest in real estate. Together, they bought and renovated a house near Notre Dame, ultimately selling it for a modest profit. This experience proved transformative for Pat and sparked his interest in property investment.
Launching His Real Estate Journey While Pursuing the NBA
In 2015, Pat was drafted by the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Unlike many athletes who might delay business ventures, Connaughton immediately began acquiring properties, often including his teammates as partners in these investments. This strategy marked the start of a growing real estate portfolio intertwined with his sports career.
By 2021, Pat and his father officially established Three Leaf Partners (TLP), a real estate firm headquartered in Milwaukee. This company specializes in developing, acquiring, and managing high-quality multifamily and mission-driven properties throughout the Midwest. Their goal is not only financial success but also generating positive community impact through real estate.
Three Leaf Partners’ Growing Influence in Real Estate
Today, Three Leaf Partners boasts a portfolio valued at over $500 million. Connaughton leverages his athletic background and extensive network to attract more than 70 investors from the NBA, NFL, and MLB, illustrating a new model for athlete-driven business ventures. TLP emphasizes providing reliable investment opportunities and ensuring long-term financial security for professional players transitioning beyond sports.
This significant growth has occurred even as Pat Connaughton continues his NBA career. Currently with the Charlotte Hornets in his 11th season, he has earned over $53 million in basketball salaries — a figure dwarfed by the valuation of his real estate firm. Given these trends, a full-time focus on real estate seems imminent.
Other Athletes Following Similar Real Estate Paths
Pat is far from alone in this approach. NBA veteran Luol Deng quietly built a $200 million real estate business by seizing smart opportunities. Deng remarked,
If you’re doing the right deals, it is really nonstop with the opportunities
, highlighting the potential for athletes to translate their discipline and networks into lasting business success.
Kendrick Perkins also weighed in on the NBA’s positive future, noting
NBA is in a pretty damn good f—ing space
, underscoring confidence in the league’s young talent and, implicitly, the opportunities available to players both on and off the court.
Implications for Athletes and Real Estate Investment
Pat Connaughton’s journey exemplifies how professional athletes can diversify beyond sports by building substantial business ventures during their playing careers. Starting with a baseball signing bonus, Connaughton turned early investments into a vast real estate firm with broad influence, enabling him and his partners to create financial stability beyond athletic earnings.
As more athletes look to emulate this path, the landscape of sports-related business will likely expand, blending athletic success with entrepreneurship and community-focused investment. Connaughton’s story suggests a blueprint for using sports-earned capital to build enduring wealth and impact.
When Pat Connaughton was 17, he turned down an opportunity to play for the New York Yankees because he wanted to do “more than just baseball.”
Now, @PlanetPat5 is a member of the NBA-best Bucks and a budding real estate mogul across multiple states: https://t.co/S4Nyi04Fm5 pic.twitter.com/YuWIXX6k8z
— CloseUp360 (@CloseUp360) February 28, 2019
