James Kent, NYC Restaurant Mogul Backed by LeBron James, Dies Unexpectedly at 45
New York City restaurant mogul James Kent, whose empire was on the cusp of national expansion thanks to backing by LeBron James’ investment firm, died over the weekend, his hospitality group announced on Instagram, along with a message to “celebrate Father’s Day with your loved ones.” He was 45.
Kent, whose two restaurants Crown Shy and Saga earned one and two Michelin stars respectively, spoke often about working in his uncle’s restaurant as a “young kid.” His culinary career was supercharged at the age of 14 when he was given a job in the kitchen of David Bouley’s eponymously named Bouley in TriBeCa. Kent was first introduced to the celebrity chef in 1993 after Bouley moved into his family’s building in lower Manhattan and his mother made him knock on the chef’s door, according to a New York Times obituary.
He went on to work for a number of buzzy fine-dining establishments, including Jean-Georges, Babbo, and Eleven Madison Park, where he first made a name for himself—as well as NoMad, where he served as executive chef.