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Some ex NBA players have done quite well in addition to having been great players: Magic, Jordan, Bird, Bill Russell, Jerry West. Some "made it" because of charisma, others stayed in basketball as coaches, others were business savvy.
I don't think Kareem really went too far. Maybe not the best personality.
Which brings me to Kobe. Sometimes he's a smiley guy joker, other times standoffish and distant (Barry Bonds type). He seems pretty smart and articulate (even speaks Italian).
Perhaps there are enough agent types who can symbiotically position Kobe into a lucrative life after basketball. Will we see it?
Jordan never did well after, he is only lucky he got set up the way he did while playing because he had squandered more money then dang near anyone. The Jordan brand started and expanded while he played, if not for people like Nike, he would be AI before AI.
As for Kobe, he's in a similar boat, he's not gonna go buy a bunch of 24hour fitness and papa johns like magic, and he doesn't need to. I think he stays relevant for 5-6 years then just pops up now and then.
I don't think Kobe has the temperment to be a coach or in management.
He will probably pop up here and there as a guest commentator but he's not a warm-fuzzy likeable guy which is fine when that razor edge makes you a killer competitor but off-court it can make you seem to be a d-bag.
Jordan never did well after, he is only lucky he got set up the way he did while playing because he had squandered more money then dang near anyone. The Jordan brand started and expanded while he played, if not for people like Nike, he would be AI before AI.
Jordan's net worth is 650mil last I saw, him blowing a couple million is nothing.
I don't think it was luck that he was the best player in the league and had charisma galore that sold stuff. One could argue he made Nike as much or more as the other way around.
I don't think comparing him to AI whom has clear gambling and alcohol problems is fair.
Jordan's net worth is 650mil last I saw, him blowing a couple million is nothing.
I don't think it was luck that he was the best player in the league and had charisma galore that sold stuff. One could argue he made Nike as much or more as the other way around.
I don't think comparing him to AI whom has clear gambling and alcohol problems is fair.
its absolutely fair, give AI 650 mil and see where he could be, certainly not in foreclosure and stuff.
the fact jordan was THE star is because of his abilities more then his charisma imo, and he fell (luckily) right into the time frame when nike (and others) were really starting to blow up for a lot of reasons, jordan being one but nike would be IMO just as big as it is now or close to it.
bottom line, jordan has ALWAYS been terrible with money, hes just lucky he has so much of it that it doesnt affect his livelihood or standard of living. would barkley have been sued if he had 650 mil? the fact remains hes a huge gambler (and not a good one apparently), he has a penchant for spending money on silly things, hes had minor abuse problems as well. he and tiger are one in the same to me, bad decisions, but so much money it doesnt have an impact on their standard of living.
now i will say he hasnt been a sbad as say mike tyson, or mc hammer but still hes not exactly pinching pennies or living the cleanest life.
One could argue he made Nike as much or more as the other way around.
I once read a vignette in a business text book about Jordan. One year, I forget which, in the 1990s, he made more money from Nike, than all the people who made the shoes (think sweatshop) COMBINED.
I see a bonafide second career opportunity for Kobe as a celebrity judge for Hawaiian Tropic bikini judging type contests.
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