Kobe Bryant’s Second Act: a Brief but Beautiful Post-basketball Life

Abstract

Kobe Bryant was an extraordinarily gifted athlete who enjoyed a long and remarkable basketball career. Entering the National Basketball Association directly out of Lower Merion High School (PA) in 1996, Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He helped lead the Lakers to five league championships, became the first player in league history to score over 30,000 points and collect 6000 assists, was selected 12 times to the league’s All-Defensive Team, was twice the league’s scoring champion, and 18 times was chosen as an NBA All-Star. Importantly, in contrast to some athletes who have difficulties in transitioning out of sport, Bryant seemingly had no such problems as he embarked on a highly successful post-athletic career that witnessed his involvement in successful business ventures, important charity work, and a host of meaningful educational and entrepreneurial activities. By all accounts, he had settled into a life that was marked by much satisfaction and a commitment to helping care for the needs of underserved and under privileged communities. This essay not only details the many important initiatives that occupied Bryant’s time during a post-athletic career tragically cut short in 2020, but assesses factors involved in his apparently seamless transition from basketball icon deluged with constant media attention and adulation to private citizen intent on doing good works.