- Bryant, who died at the age of 41 on January 26 following a helicopter crash, co-founded Bryant Stibel & Co., a venture capital firm, in 2013, and made investments accross the tech and media industries according to USA Today .
- "If you really want to create something that lasts generations, you have to help inspire the next generation, right," Bryant said in the 2016 interview with CNBC.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Although he will likely always be known for his two-decade NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant said in 2016 he wanted to be remembered as an investor.
Kobe Bryant
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Basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died January 26 at the age of 41 , wanted to be remembered for his investments, not his hoops career, he once said.
Bryant shared his thoughts about his legacy and passion in investment during an interview with CNBC on August 22, 2016, after disclosing the launch of his own$100 million venture fund .
When CNBC's Carl Quintanilla asked if his legacy will beinbasketball or investing 20 years from now, Bryant didn't hesitate to say "Investing," adding it's more meaningful because of its lasting impact:
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"Playing basketball, the focus is always winning. Winning championships. Winning championships come and go. It's going to be another team that wins another championship, another player that wins another MVP award," Bryant said. "If you really want to create something that lasts generations, you have to help inspire the next generation, right? They create something great. And then that generation will inspire the one behind them. That's when you create something forever. And that's what's most beautiful."
Over his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant built a legacy that made him easily one of the three greatest NBA players ever, which makes it no suprise he was nominated in December 2019 to be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2020.
At the time, Bryant said he had been studying investments for the past 4 years to make sure his heart was really in it and said he was constantly learning from his mentors, like Nike CEO Mark Parker.
"We have to constantly learn," Bryant said in 2016. "I mean that's why our mantra is value growth. Because to grow, you have to constantly learn. You have to constantly move, constantly improve. That's the key. That's what makes life fun, I think."
In September 2019, Bryant credited his basketball career for his success as an investor in an interview with USA Today .
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"A lot of time through the course of a game, you may notice a gap in defense or something you can take advantage of offensively," Bryant said. "If you attack all at once, you show your hand too early," he says. "Team sports does a great job in teaching that and how to trust others."
James co-founded his venture capital firmBryant Stibel & Co. in 2013, which foucses on tech and media industry investments, USA Today reported.
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