After a 60-point performance against the Utah Jazz, Kobe Bryant retired at the end of the 2015-16 NBA season. While some athletes struggle with the next chapter of their lives, Bryant already knew what he wanted to do when he suffered three season-ending injuries in the final stages of his career.
Along with building up Kobe Inc. and storytelling, Bryant has invested in BodyArmor. In an interview with Darren Rovell of ESPN, BodyArmor founder and chairman Mike Repole discusses Bryant's obsession with trying to build up the sports drink company:
Article Continues Below“Text at 3 in the morning, and he responds a minute later,” said Mike Repole, founder and chairman at BodyArmor, a sports drink brand that Bryant invested in in 2014. “That's when I realized he was as psychotic as I was. I don't think either of us sleep.”
“We are obsessive,” Bryant said. “We wouldn't want to be doing anything other than what we are doing. That's where obsession comes in — when you care about something 24 hours a day.”
Since the Achilles injury during the 2012-13 season, Bryant has been focusing on life after basketball. While the five-time champion is still very much involved in the sport, his obsession with business will be just as successful as his basketball career.
For the Lakers, they are officially in a new era led by President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka. With a young core established, the storied franchise is looking to create the necessary cap space to sign two max contract players to return to contention.