Former 16-year NBA veteran Al Harrington was one of those who remembered playing against the Seattle Supersonics before they moved to Oklahoma City in the summer of 2009.
During a recent chat with LandonBuford.com, Harrington shared his favorite Supersonics moment.
“Yeah, so my favorite Seattle memory is definitely Kevin Durant. Just seeing how special he was going to be as a rookie,” said Harrington.
“Like I said, I think that game he might have gave us 40, and I knew that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. And obviously, look at the Hall of Fame career he’s had.”
The game that Harrington is referencing took place on April 16, 2008, at Oracle Arena in Golden State, according to ESPN.
Kevin Durant would finish with 42 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists in 43 minutes of play. Durant’s current Houston Rockets teammate, Jeff Green, also played in that game for the Sonics and finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 39 minutes. Unfortunately, Harrington would finish with 2 points, one rebound, and one assist in 17 minutes of play. The Seattle Supersonics would go on to beat the Golden State Warriors 126-121.
Al Harrington Starts Cannabis Company with Former NBA Veterans
Harrington, since his playing career concluded, transitioned into an entrepreneur and founded Viola Brands after seeing his grandmother’s glaucoma and diabetes symptoms being relieved by cannabis. He named his company brand after her as well.
“I started Viola because of my grandmother,” Harrington said. “Seeing how cannabis helped her find relief changed everything for me.
“That family-driven purpose has guided us from day one, and Curio Wellness shares our commitment to wellness, education, and quality, which is why partnering with them is special.”
According to a 2022 Forbes article, Viola raised $13 million to expand into Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Viola has raised $34 million and is worth more than $100 million. Harrington invested $6 million and owns about 40% of the company. Other investors include former NBA players such as Ben Gordon, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Josh Childress, and DeMarcus Cousins.
Harrington also started Viola because he wanted to make a difference in the war against drugs and help black people build generational wealth the legal way, and received their license to sell cannabis.
“It was a setup, and it was a way to continue to push slavery,” says Harrington. The remedy? Give Black people the opportunity to profit from the substance that for decades helped subjugate them.”
“It’s about generational wealth,” he continues. “These licenses can be anywhere from $3 million to $5 million, even more than that depending on the location. And for people who never made more than $30,000 in a year, that’s life-changing money with a life-changing opportunity.”
Al Harrington Wants To Get Into Player Representation Business
Harrington would finish his interview with LandonBuford.com by sharing that he would like to start representing players. He was already working with Jaylen Tyson, the 20th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
“Yeah, I’m thinking about getting into the representation business. I’ve already been working with Jaylen Tyson, the 20th pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s another passion of mine—working with young professional basketball players, and maybe even expanding into other sports.
I want to share my knowledge and experience and help them build a successful career as I have. I played 16 years, so I understand what it really takes. For me, it’s about teaching them the ropes and guiding them the right way.”
