How Will Kobe Handle His Post-NBA Career?
The words sounded powerful to Kobe Bryant as he heard Michael Jordan gush about his on-court achievements.
Jordan praised Bryant’s competitiveness. Jordan complimented Bryant’s skills. Jordan highlighted Bryant’s influence on the NBA’s current generation.
Jordan, the Charlotte Hornets owner, spoke those words in a video tribute in Bryant’s final trip to Charlotte last month. It meant a lot to Bryant, who tried to be like Mike with his sharp fundamentals, thirst for championships and demanding personality.
Then, Jordan offered some perspective that could help Bryant with the next chapter once his 20th and final NBA season ends.
“Your next career is going to be something I’m pretty sure you will have to figure out,” Jordan said in the video tribute. “From a competitive standpoint, I’m pretty sure you’re just like me. You’re going to have to find ways to utilize that competitive drive.”
The Lakers (9-40) host the Charlotte Hornets (22-25) on Sunday at Staples Center, giving Bryant exactly 33 games before he will have to sweat out those competitive juices elsewhere. For once, Bryant will not try to be like Mike with how he handles his post-NBA career.
Bryant shot down any scenario he would reconsider retirement. Jordan did that twice, which led both to three more NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls (1996-98) and an underwhelming stint with the Washington Wizards (2001-03).
Bryant also ruled out having any ownership, front office or coaching role with any sports team. Jordan oversaw Charlotte’s basketball operations in 2006 before becoming the franchise’s majority owner in 2010. Jordan has overseen Charlotte making only two NBA playoff appearances and getting swept both times in the first round.
How will Bryant channel his basketball greatness into something else?
“Basketball or whatever sport you play, it comes easy,” Bryant said. “You were born and this is what you did at a young age. It’s very hard to figure out what the next thing is. But I’ll be fine.”
Kobe Bryant answers questions about the state of the Lakers during a press conference before welcoming campers to his Kobe Basketball Academy at UCSB, in July 2013. Kobe became refreshingly open with the media late in his career. (L.A. Daily News: Michael Owen Baker)
Rediscovering a Passion
Bryant and those around him anticipate he will become just as successful in retirement as he did with the Lakers, where he collected five NBA championships and became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
“He’s going to be active,” said Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol, who won two NBA championships with Bryant on the Lakers (2008-2014). “He’s well-positioned to be set and do whatever he wants.”
Bryant already has founded Kobe, Inc., a sports-related company that has invested in the Body Armor sports drink. Bryant’s company has also trademarked various phrases, including “Friends Hang Sometimes, Banners Hang Forever.” Bryant also has committed toward traveling to China and Africa, trips that could include promoting his Nike brand and hosting basketball clinics.
After producing his “Muse” documentary that aired on Showtime last year, a camera crew has followed Bryant throughout his final NBA season in what could turn into another documentary. When Bryant announced his retirement on Nov. 29, 2015, Bryant called himself “a storyteller.” Bryant also described himself as “extremely passionate” and “obsessive” about that craft.
“I’ve been very fortunate enough to find it to the point that it keeps me up at night,” Bryant said. “I’m constantly working, studying and trying to get better at it.”
That surprises no one.
“He’s going to work at that just like he worked at his game,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “Whatever he’s involved in is going to be successful because he’s going to put the time and the effort to make it that way.”
Kobe expects the legendary passion and focus he displayed on the court to extend to his post-playing career business and creative endeavors. (L.A. Daily News: Michael Owen Baker)
Handling His Competitive Urge
But can that fully replace Bryant’s love for basketball?
“I don’t know,” said former Lakers center and current TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal, who has publicly made amends with Bryant after their contentious relationship during their eight years together (1996-2004). “It’s going to be difficult. You wake up and you don’t have anything to do.”
Bryant will have plenty to do, but it will not involve him dominating opponents on the basketball court. After admitting he “would have loved to play overseas for a season,” Bryant changed his sentiments nearly a month ago. He conceded, “my body won’t let me.” Bryant and those around him strongly doubt he will play pickup games at local gyms just to satisfy his hoops fix.
“I’m always going to be working. I can’t stop,” Bryant said. “I have too much energy. I’m always going to be really, really working really, really hard. The hardest thing is going to be to sit down and relax.”
So even if Bryant has sounded at peace with coaches, teammates and reporters throughout his final NBA season, he has anticipated feeling a sudden dread of finality.
“I’m waiting for it to really hit heavy,” Bryant said. “Right now, I feel really good. It’s really smooth. But it can’t be that smooth. I’m walking away from the game that I’ve been playing since I was two years old. At some point, it has to hit like a ton of bricks. I’m on pins and needles to see if that will happen.” Former Lakers general manager and Golden State Warriors executive Jerry West predicted that will happen fairly soon.
“I will guarantee you after a year,” West said. “The thing with being competitive, he also has to be disciplined. All of a sudden, you’re going to have to find a way to be disciplined with your life.”
That led Scott to joke Bryant may want to take up golf “so he can have that competitive flow still going.” But it sounds like Bryant already has planned for that. He recently told SiriusXM NBA Radio he wants to stay physically active during his post-NBA career.
Bryant plans to still wake up as early as 6 a.m. for weight-training workouts. Bryant said he would like to take up skiing, surfing and sky diving for the first time. Former tennis star Pete Sampras has also offered to give Bryant lessons.
Kobe Bryant was one-of-a-kind in his brilliant 20-year NBA career and truly a Laker for life. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Keith Birmingham)
“I’ll continue to stay in good shape,” Bryant said. “It’s important from a health perspective and also to maintain a schedule. To have a career end and you feel like it would be more fun and more free to be able to wake up and not have a schedule and things of that sort? If anything, I think that makes things more confusing.”
Sacramento Kings forward and former Lakers teammate Caron Butler no longer sounded confused after having private conversations with Bryant over dinner last month before his final game in Sacramento.
In addition toward having more time to spend with his wife (Vanessa) and daughters (Natalia, Gianna), Bryant also outlined to Butler a full itinerary that will keep himself distracted enough not to worry about not holding, dribbling and shooting a ball.
“He’s going to be extremely busy,” said Butler, who’s considered one of Bryant’s closest friends. “I’m really happy for him. The transition is going to be smooth because he has so much going on. He’s going to be occupied with his projects.”
Savoring the Moment
With some time left before his last NBA game on April 13 against Utah at Staples Center, Bryant listened intently to a message from his idol last month. Unlike in years past, it did not involve trash talk, advice on how to score or insight on how to elevate his teammates. Instead, Jordan offered an olive branch on how to succeed away from the hardwood.
“I look forward toward seeing what you do next,” Jordan said in the video tribute. “If you ever need anything, you have my number. Stay in touch.”
