Kobe Bryant by Patrick Thompson

Author:Patrick Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Kobe Bryant, stephen curry, lebron james, basketball
Publisher: WhiteFlowerPublsihing
Published: 2019-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6 The Storyteller

When Kobe retired in 2016, no one knew exactly what his next steps would be. Sure, he had business ventures and the Kobe Bryant brand was still as strong as it ever was, but everyone wanted to know if his next effort would still be within the basketball world. The natural progression was to coach a team or mentor players as an assistant coach. He could also be a consultant or even a team owner—he knew how to lead, so owning one wouldn’t be a far-off idea.

Little did everyone know that the 5-time NBA champion has a knack for storytelling. Before he retired from pro basketball, Kobe wrote the heart-felt and painfully honest poem Dear Basketball. The poem had an impact because it was Kobe’s raw emotions captured in words. It was moving and showed Kobe’s love and passion for basketball.

The poem marked his official retirement in 2016. It wasn’t the last we’ve seen the poem. Kobe turned the poem into a 5-minute animated short with the help of animator Glen Keane and composer John Williams. By recruiting two industry heavyweights, the animated short was turned into a masterpiece worthy of critical acclaim and an Oscars nod.

The animated short premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Kobe even performed it live with Williams conducting the orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. His newfound career as a storyteller created Granity Studios. He coined the word “Granity” from the phrase “greater than infinity.” The studio is devoted to creating and developing stories that would be shared with the public.

Retirement did not slow Kobe down; not one bit. The second act of his career involved his role as CEO of Kobe Inc. He is also a general partner of Bryant Stibel, which is a $100 million investment fund for media entertainment startups such as Scopely and The Players Tribune, among other startups.

Kobe’s goal is to create timeless stories that can inspire people and make them become better versions of themselves—pretty much what Mamba Mentality is trying to instill in people who are willing to embrace the philosophy and the way of life.

It was an unlikely path for his second career but it’s something that he’s currently thriving at. When he won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards, Kobe had something that no other NBA player has ever achieved. He can truly say that he is a cut above the rest with his achievement in his new venture.

What not many people know is that Kobe has always loved stories—reading them and plotting them. He has always been fascinated by how characters develop as the story progresses. He is particularly interested in stories about hard work and dedication. He is inspired by stories where the characters defy the odds and achieve success.

One thing that motivates Kobe to tell stories is that he wants to see how people react to them. In particular, he wants to see the reaction from kids after reading the stories. He’s curious about how children interpret the symbols and meanings and if they are able to gain something from them.

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