Russian billionaire says player’s career won’t get entangled in Kim Kardashian’s romances
Mikhail Prokhorov has Kris Humphries ’ back.
In a statement given exclusively to Gatecrasher, the Russian billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets took the bluster out of Kanye West ’s provocative song “Theraflu,” by declaring it a lyrical airball.
West, whose blossoming relationship with Humphries’ ex-wife, Kim Kardashian , has been grabbing headlines, declared his love for the reality star on the track. The song, which leaked April 5, features a cheap shot at Humphries.
“Lucky I ain’t have Jay drop him from the team,” West boasts on the tune, inferring that he has enough influence over Nets minority owner and buddy Jay-Z to affect Humphries’ future with the team.
According to the Nets’ principal owner, however, West can’t touch Humphries.
“Kris has nothing to worry about,” Prokhorov said. “I support my players, and I’m on his side in this epic battle.”
Although Hova has gotten a lot of press indicating that he’s an owner of the Nets, his stake in the team is minuscule compared to Prokhorov’s.
The Russian businessman, who’s back in town after a losing bid for president in his native country, paid $200 million for 80% of the NBA team in 2010.
Jay-Z reportedly purchased a $4.5 million stake in the Nets in 2004.
Besides, a Nets source added, “General manager Billy King makes all player personnel decisions.” Which means that Jay-Z could have Humphries dropped only in West’s fantasies.
Not that he’d even consider it. An insider in Humphries camp says West’s lyrical jab is especially ridiculous given that Jay-Z has been “clapping for Kris and high-fiving him and being super supportive” at games.
In his eighth NBA season, Humphries — who will become a free agent this summer — is averaging career highs in points and rebounds.
As for Kardashian’s romance with the mercurial West, the source with Humphries’ characterizes it as a “cry for attention and a publicity stunt — whether Kanye is involved in it or not.”
The insider points out that the other notable line from West’s song — “And I’ll admit, I fell in love with Kim/Round the same time she had fell in love with him” — takes the focus off Kardashian and Humphries’ bickering over the terms of their split, which now has lasted longer than their marriage…..more
