Kobe Bryant’s transformation from Lakers superstar to shrewd investor traces back to a chance conversation at Lakers media day, according to sports media veteran Darren Rovell, who recounted the story on OutKick’s “The Craig Carton Show.”
Rovell said Bryant approached him directly with an unusual pitch: “You know, once a year you interview me on business. I think you’re one of the smartest guys. I love business too, haven’t done anything, and would love to figure out if there’s some business thing we can get into together. Can I have your number?”
That request led to a working relationship between the two, and Rovell described Bryant as someone whose mind rarely stopped, even late at night. “3 a.m., 2 a.m., every time. Every time I responded, even though he was in L.A., there was the dot, dot, dot back. He’s awake… same cycling brain, same everything,” Rovell said.
Their partnership wasn’t limited to boardrooms. Rovell recalled playing Bryant one-on-one on the Lakers star’s 30th birthday, during which Bryant refused to let him score. When Rovell asked if he could at least get a shot off, Bryant told him no. “You are not gonna beat me, so scoring a point is your victory,” Bryant said, according to Rovell.
The KRAVE Deal That Got Away
The real turning point in their business relationship came in 2012, when Rovell brought Bryant an opportunity to buy a 10% stake in KRAVE Beef Jerky for $8 million, valuing the company at $80 million. Bryant was prepared to invest, but his financial adviser talked him out of the deal.
Six months later, Hershey purchased KRAVE for $291 million — a sale that would have handed Bryant a $23 million payday had he moved forward with the investment.
Rather than souring on the idea of investing with Rovell, Bryant recognized his instincts had been right and doubled down. “I can’t believe this,” Bryant told him, according to Rovell. “I’ll put $10 million in your bank account right now. No questions asked. What are we going into?”
A Massive Payoff With BodyArmor
That money went into BodyArmor, the sports drink startup that Bryant backed with his own capital. When Coca-Cola acquired the brand, Bryant’s investment returned an estimated $444 million, according to Rovell — a deal that cemented the basketball icon’s reputation as a serious venture investor beyond the court.
