Retired NBA star Jamal Mashburn joined the board of cannabis health and wellness company Revolution Global as an advisor, the company announced on Thursday.
Mashburn, a former forward who played for teams that included the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, became the latest in a series of former athletes promoting the booming legal pot industry. Mashburn, who operates Papa John’s and Toyota franchises, will advise the Chicago-based company on a range of issues like marketing and business expansion.
“A lot of people have tried to recruit me in this particular sector, because of my retail experience, being a franchisee of Papa Johns and operating numerous Toyota and Lexus dealerships,” Mashburn told Yahoo Finance in an interview.
However, he felt that Revolution had more potential, and he sought an opportunity where he felt he could best utilize his skills. Among other things, he’s also acquainted with the company’s current board chair, Tony Hunter.
“Tony’s a good friend, and I trust him,” Mashburn said. “And from a personal side, they didn’t look at me as an athlete, because I don’t consider myself an athlete. I’m a retired athlete, but not a retired businessman.”
The former basketball player said that the cannabis space was a natural fit for athletes, given the stress the lifestyle puts on the body. While there’s still controversy surrounding the use of legal pot and its derivative, cannabidoil (CBD), Mashburn contends the compound’s use can help players maximize pain management.