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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives around OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Sometimes you do get to come home. Or, at least, you can purchase a stake in a major sports team in your hometown if you’re lucky.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham — a two-time All-Star playing in his fifth season in the NBA — has purchased a minority stake in the Texas Rangers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. No other details have been reported yet.

Cunningham is hardly the first pro athlete to purchase an ownership share in a team while still actively playing. LeBron James holds stakes in several teams through his partnership with Fenway Sports Group (including the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins, Roush Fenway Racing, and the EPL’s Liverpool Football Club). Patrick Mahomes owns stakes in several Kansas City teams (including the Royals, Sporting KC, and the NWSL’s Current).

Many others have invested in recent years, particularly in various racing (both NASCAR and F1), European soccer (the EPL), and women’s sports (WNBA and NWSL) leagues.

Who Owns the Rangers?

There have been rocky moments in the Texas Rangers’ ownership history. With financial issues looming that might force him into bankruptcy, former owner Tom Hicks ultimately agreed in January 2010 to sell the franchise to a group led by Pittsburgh sports lawyer Chuck Greenberg and Hall of Fame right-hander Nolan Ryan for $570 million.

More legal trouble arose during the process, including concerns about the club’s debt, before the deal was finally concluded at a reduced sale price of $539 million. Once the other MLB owners approved the sale in August, Rangers Baseball Express was born. Ray Davis and Bob R. Simpson, two “Texas oil magnates”, provided the bulk of the funding for the purchase. Davis is considered the team’s principal owner and managing partner.

So, Who is Cade Cunningham?

The 24-year-old Cunningham was born and raised in Arlington, Texas. He starred at Bowie High School (less than nine miles from where the Rangers play their home games) before playing collegiately at Oklahoma State. Cunningham collected several accolades during his career with the Cowboys, and ultimately was selected with the first-overall pick in the 2021 Draft by the Pistons.

Cunningham has wasted little time making a name for himself in the NBA. He won All-Rookie First Team honors in his first season — averaging 32.6 minutes, 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game — and he’s only gotten better since.

He was an All-Star in 2025 and was named to the team again this season — where he’s averaging 34.9 minutes, 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.6 assists a game for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.

Aaron Somers Aaron Somers has been writing about baseball on a global scale since the early 2000’s. His content has appeared at several outlets over those years, with most of his recent words coming at his To Be Named Later newsletter. More about Aaron Somers

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