NBA Star Kevin Durant Recovers Coinbase Account After Nearly a Decade

NBA star Kevin Durant has finally regained access to his long-lost Bitcoin account on Coinbase, nearly 10 years after first investing in the cryptocurrency.

The revelation came after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed on X that Durant’s account recovery had been completed. “We got this fixed. Account recovery complete!” Armstrong posted Thursday evening.

Durant, a 15-time NBA All-Star who will play for the Houston Rockets this season, shared the story earlier this week at the Gameplan Summit in Santa Monica. Sitting alongside his agent Rich Kleiman, Durant recalled how he first discovered Bitcoin around 2014–2015 through YouTube videos. Inspired, he urged Kleiman to look into the digital asset.

According to Kleiman, their business manager initially dismissed the idea. But after hearing Bitcoin frequently mentioned at a party hosted by venture capital icon Ben Horowitz, the pair decided to invest. Kleiman admitted they lost access to Durant’s Coinbase login soon after, leaving the Bitcoin untouched for years. “Fortunately, we never sold anything—and his Bitcoin value is now through the roof,” Kleiman said.

The amount of Bitcoin Durant purchased remains undisclosed. Historical data shows Bitcoin was trading between $400 and $1,000 in 2016. With today’s price at over $115,000, Durant’s early investment could represent a staggering fortune.

Durant and Kleiman were also early investors in Coinbase through their business venture Thirty Five Ventures.

The account recovery sparked a wave of reactions online, with frustrated Coinbase users highlighting their own struggles. Many claimed they have been locked out for years without resolution. Armstrong responded, saying Coinbase is prioritizing stronger customer support by streamlining products and improving service speed.

Durant’s story highlights both the promise of early crypto adoption—and the challenges that still plague even high-profile investors.