Not only was Kobe Bryant an NBA all-time great, but he was also a burgeoning businessman. His later years in the league saw him mentoring younger players on finance. During the 2012 lockout, Kobe even gave younger players loans.
Kobe Bryant, when he retired, spoke of the company he was launching, a media company named Kobe, Inc. Through this company, he officially trademarked his “Black Mamba” moniker. According to reports, that may have been a part of a bigger plan.
Like most NBA players, Kobe Bryant aspired to be like Michael Jordan, even down to the Nike deal. But, after decades with the company, Bryant aspired for more, which he spoke of. According to reports, Kobe Bryant had plans of leaving Nike for the launch of his own “Mamba” shoe brand.
Source: Kollege Kidd
