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Shane Battier, a former Miami Heat forward, is shifting his business interests away from sports before continuing his administrative career in the NBA. On Wednesday, Battier, 42, became a board member of Yext, a software company based in New York. Yext is an artificial intelligence search startup that helps businesses manage their brand data and grow their online presence. Verizon, Marriott, and Samsung are among the companies with which it has relationships. In 2017, Yext went public and is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It is valued at $1.8 billion on the stock market. “You go down some rabbit holes when you dive into the experience of the world of search,” Battier said in an interview with CNBC on Thursday regarding his next move. “It’s an incredible piece of technology and an opportunity to leave my mark on my first commercial venture.” “”Back in the day,” he continued, “search was based on ‘keywords.'” That technology is gradually becoming obsolete. When you query something, Yext is pioneering a revolutionary idea: you actually get responses to your questions.” Battier claimed he’ll add “team-building” experience to Yext, which he gained during his 13-year NBA career. He won two NBA titles with the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. Yext CEO Howard Lerman CNBC’s Scott Mlyn “I’ve been in locations where I’ve gone from a losing culture to a winning one,” he explained. “I know people, and I know teams, and sometimes technology, because we get so caught up in the data and technology we’re developing, but you need people to execute.” In June, Battier resigned as the Heat’s vice president of analytics and basketball development. He’s being connected to front-office jobs all throughout the league, notably with the Utah Jazz, where former colleague Dwyane Wade is now a co-owner. When asked if he’s considering another basketball operations job, Battier said he hasn’t ruled it out, but that his primary goal is to develop his personal life outside of the NBA. “Right now, I’m scratching my business itch,” Battier remarked. “Basketball will always play a significant role in my life. I’ll never say no to returning in a more official capacity… but for now, I’m concentrating on establishing myself as a businessman.” According to Spotrac, a website that tracks sports contracts, Battier earned $55 million over his career. “I haven’t had too many loses and misses that have cost me dearly,” he said, describing his investment style as “conservative.” In the first quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Saturday, May 24, 2014, the Miami Heat’s Shane Battier (31) can’t get around the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert near the hoop. Getty Images | Charles Trainor Jr. | Miami Herald | Tribune News Service BOA Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition firm that raised more than $200 million in February, has Battier on its board of directors as an independent member. The SPAC’s ticker symbol is “BOAS.U” and it trades on the New York Stock Exchange. He also invested in pasta brand “Banza” and lifestyle brand Eastside Golf through a “disruptive innovation fund” that owns a minority position in South Korean e-commerce company Coupang. Battier stated that he wants to establish a name for himself through “impact investing,” which he defines as assisting minority businesses prosper. “I believe now is an excellent opportunity to enhance diversity, not only on the board, but also among the founders and creators,” he continued. When asked about his predictions for the NBA Finals, which will feature the Phoenix Suns for the first time since 1993, Battier stated that he is rooting for them. James Jones, a former Suns teammate, is the team’s vice president of basketball operations. “I read somewhere that James Jones has appeared in eight of the previous ten NBA Finals,” Battier added, referring to Jones’ appearances in the Finals with the Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Even if the Hawks make it, Grant Hill is going to have a terrible time. I’m rooting for both of them.”/nRead More

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