Big Blanket adds star talent with new business partner

Last edited 10:18 a.m., Oct. 30, 2019

One of the tallest players in NBA history now has ties to Springfield.

Boban Marjanovic, who is over 7 feet, 3 inches tall, joined the team of Big Blanket Co. startup that sells blankets designed to cover the user’s entire body.

Co-owner Bryan Simpson said Big Blanket business partner Anthony Tolliver, a Springfield native who’s also an NBA player, stayed in touch with Marjanovic after they previously played together during the 2017-18 season for the Detroit Pistons. Tolliver now plays for the Portland Trailblazers, while Marjanovic is with the Dallas Mavericks.

“Anthony pitched the idea of bringing Boban on as a partner, and we couldn't pass on the opportunity to have a 7' 3" spokesman,” Simpson said via email. “After meeting Boban in person, we knew he was a perfect fit — his personality is as large as his body, and he's as genuine as they come.”

Simpson said Marjanovic, whose title is chief blanket connoisseur, took a less than 5% stake in Big Blanket Co. He declined to disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Big Blanket Co. recently closed out its second successful Kickstarter campaign in less than a year, most recently raising over $147,000 for a new weighted blanket product.

Along with Tolliver and Marjanovic, Simpson owns Big Blanket Co. with Dane Watts — a former teammate of Tolliver’s at Creighton University who played professionally overseas — and Josh Stewart. Simpson and Stewart separately work together at Springfield marketing and web design firm Hook Creative LLC.