NBA star James Harden has revealed that Kobe Bryant shared a piece of life-changing advice with him.
Bryant became a legend on the court, winning five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, but it appears his influence extended far beyond basketball.
The late NBA icon was also a savvy businessman who passed his knowledge of the market on to his peers, Harden has now revealed.
The Clippers star shared that Bryant gave him a piece of advice that altered his approach to his finances.
‘Kobe told me, ‘Let’s put aside $5 million. Anytime an opportunity comes up—whether it’s $200,000 or $500,000—we’ll pull from this pot and invest,’ Harden explained on the Earn Your Leisure podcast.
Not only did Bryant encourage Harden to set up an investment fund but his influence also saw the 35-year-old put the strategic plan into beneficial practice.
James Harden (L) revealed Kobe Bryant (R) shared a piece of life-changing advice with him
The Clippers star shared that Bryant encouraged him to invest $500,000 in BodyArmor
Bryant had already invested $6 million in BodyArmor back in 2014 for a 10 percent stake and Harden followed suit.
Harden put $500,000 of his own into the sports drink brand, which transformed into an incredible windfall as the company’s success skyrocketed.
In 2021, CocaCola acquired BodyArmor for $5.6 billion, turning Bryant’s investment into a staggering $400 million and a significant return for Harden too.
But Bryant’s financial mentorship didn’t end there. His influence left a lasting impact on Harden who has continued to take Bryant’s advice to heart.
Harden has taken Bryant’s teachings on turning basketball success into business acumen and long-term wealth.
He has established an impressive portfolio, including part ownership of MLS team the Houston Dynamo and its NWSL equivalent Houston Dash (NWSL), as well as investments in companies like Therabody.
Harden admitted that he feels responsibility to pick up the mantle and pay Bryant’s mentorship forward following his death.
‘Carrying on Kobe’s legacy is really hard because he was truly one of a kind,’ Harden said. ‘But I try to contribute creatively and keep things moving forward.’
Bryant boasted an impressive portfolio of his own, investing in Alibaba, Dell, and Epic Games among others, as well as launching his own production company, Granity Studios.
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