NBA star James Harden reveals Kobe Bryant’s financial advice that earned him huge windfall
NBA star James Harden has revealed that Kobe Bryant shared some life-changing advice with him.
Bryant became a legend on the court, winning five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, but it seems his influence extended far beyond basketball.
The late NBA icon was also a shrewd businessman who passed on his knowledge of the market to his colleagues, Harden has now revealed.
The Clippers star shared that Bryant gave him a piece of advice that changed his approach to his finances.
“Kobe said to me, ‘Let’s set aside $5 million. “Every time an opportunity comes along – whether it’s $200,000 or $500,000 – we pull from this pot and invest,” Harden explained at the Earn your free time podcast.
Not only did Bryant encourage Harden to set up an investment fund, but his influence also led the 35-year-old to put the strategic plan into action.
James Harden (L) revealed that Kobe Bryant (R) shared some life-changing advice with him
The Clippers star said Bryant encouraged him to invest $500,000 in BodyArmor
Bryant had already invested $6 million in BodyArmor in 2014 for a 10 percent stake and Harden followed suit.
Harden himself put $500,000 into the sports drink brand, which turned into an incredible windfall as the company’s success skyrocketed.
In 2021, CocaCola acquired BodyArmor for $5.6 billion, making Bryant’s investment a whopping $400 million and also a significant return for Harden.
But Bryant’s financial mentorship didn’t end there. His influence has had a lasting impact on Harden, who continues to take Bryant’s advice to heart.
Harden has adopted Bryant’s teachings on turning basketball success into business acumen and long-term wealth.
He has built an impressive portfolio, including partial ownership of the MLS team Houston Dynamo and its NWSL equivalent Houston Dash (NWSL), as well as investments in companies like Therabody.
Harden admitted he feels a responsibility to take up the mantle and pay for Bryant’s mentorship after his death.
“It’s really hard to continue Kobe’s legacy because he was really unique,” Harden said. “But I try to make a creative contribution and move things forward.”
Bryant had an impressive portfolio of his own, including investing in Alibaba, Dell and Epic Games, and founding his own production company Granity Studios.