Kobe Bryant Calls Timeout on his Basketball Career, but his Brand Goes on

By Tariq Saleh

“This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind. But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.”

This was the moment Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant officially called time on a glittering 20-year NBA career.

Bryant confirmed his retirement at the end of the 2015/16 season in an open letter on the Players’ Tribune on Sunday night.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a hugely successful career on the court, which included five NBA championships, one MVP trophy and 17 All-Star appearances. He also became the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers.

Kobe had as much success off the court as he had on it. According to Forbes, he had record career earnings of $680 million, making him one of the best-paid athletes in the world.

That total is the most ever made by a team athlete and the only athletes to have earned more are those in individual sports such as Floyd Mayweather, Tiger Woods and Michael Schumacher.

Per Forbes, Bryant has been the highest paid player in the NBA for the past six seasons and is the only player in NBA history besides Michael Jordan, to have a salary that topped $30m in a single season.

Of the $680m Bryant has made, more than $280m has come from endorsements. Over the course of his career, he’s had deals with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, McDonalds, Sprite, Nintendo, Sony, Hublot and more.

His biggest backer has been sportswear giant Nike, who signed him to a $10m-per-year contract in 2003.

Speaking on Monday, Nike spokesman Brian Strong said: “Kobe epitomizes ‘there is no finish line.

“He’s a legend of the game, and his legacy will live on.”

Through his affiliation with Nike and his performances in a Lakers jersey, Bryant became a global star, especially in China where he was revered.

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The country thus became a huge market for Bryant, which he duly took advantage of.

His jersey has been the best-seller in China for a number of years and he embraced his status with frequent trips to China in the NBA off-season.

Several injuries have seen Kobe Bryant play just 41 games over the past two seasons and it was always anticipated that his career was slowly coming to an end.

Bryant admitted after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2014/2015 season that he spent time thinking about life after basketball and what he’d like to do.

In an exclusive interview with ESPN in 2014, Bryant revealed he had formed his own company, Kobe Inc., which is focused on business and investment.

“I have always had ideas and always had a vision of where I wanted to go going back to 2000, but they are just ideas,” Bryant told ESPN.

“I want to be a part of something and if you want to be a true entrepreneur you have to put skin in the game,” Bryant said.

“At this stage in my life, I don’t have the interest in taking on any more endorsements.”

Shortly after announcing the launch of his own company, Bryant confirmed its first investment into sports drink, BODYARMOR. The investment was between $4-6m, making him the company’s third largest shareholder.

His popularity in China enabled his company to sign further deals with Alibaba and Sina.com.

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Above all, his importance to the Lakers can never be underestimated. With Kobe as its franchise player for over a decade, the team’s revenue was always on the rise. Already one of the biggest franchises in American sports, Kobe Bryant helped to elevate the Lakers as one of the most valuable sports teams on the planet.

According to Forbes, the franchise was worth an estimated $200m in 1996 when Bryant was drafted, but was valued at $2 billion in Forbes’ 2015 List of NBA’s Most Valuable Teams.

Make no mistake about it, Kobe Bryant is a brand.

He may not be gracing the court after this current season, but you can expect him to have a major impact in the sport business industry off the court in the next chapter of his career.

Paris 2024 Expresses “Shock” and “Sadness” at Deadly Terrorist Attacks

By Christian Radnedge

The team behind Paris’ bid to host the 2024 Olympics has expressed its “shock” and “sadness” at the terrorist attacks which killed at least 127 people in the French capital on Friday. 

Several coordinated attacks took place in Paris, including suicide bombings at the Stade de France where France where playing Germany, and shootings at a restaraunt and at a music concert.

At least 99 people are believed to be among the wounded.

It comes just months after a shooting at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in the centre of Paris. That incident led Paris 2024 bid leader Bernard Lapasset to claim that the attacks would only unite the city even more to show the best of itself in the future. 

In a statement released to the media on Saturday, the bid team said: “Paris 2024 is today in mourning for all those killed in the appalling events of last night.‎ Our thoughts are with their loved ones and with those wounded in these horrific, unforgivable attacks.

“We share the shock and profound sadness which has been expressed by so many people around the world and as Parisians we stand in solidarity with the people of Paris and of France in uniting against these acts of terror.

“The historic values of our city and our country matter more than ever and they are the basis of our resolve and determination in the face of such terrible tragedy.”

In a statement of his own, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said that the attacks were not just on the people of France, but on all of humanity.

Bach said: “These attacks are deeply shocking. The IOC condemns these barbaric and cowardly acts.

“This is not only an attack on the people of France and Paris, this is an attack on humanity and all humanitarian and Olympic Values

“We stand united with all people from all around the globe. Our thoughts are of course with the families and friends of those who have been killed or wounded.

“We support also the outstanding work of so many men and women in the medical and security fields who are assisting the population in these very difficult moments.

“In these dark times, we should remember the unifying power of sport to unite people and communities and to bring peace and reconciliation.  Today all people of goodwill will say: We are all French.

“Today [Saturday], I have sent a letter of condolence and support to President Hollande and I have ordered that the Olympic flag be put at half-mast to remember this tragedy.”

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Directors’ Club Returns to Moscow Today for Second Appearance of 2015

DCMoscow2015The iSportconnect Directors’ Club will be making its return to Moscow this evening for its second edition of the year. The event is once again in partnership with PwC Russia.

The event will be taking place at the PwC Club in Moscow on Wednesday 28th October.

The confirmed panellists are:

Sergey Pryadkin, President of the Russian Football Premier League

Vyacheslav Mugurov, General Producer of TV Production company “Art Pictures Group” and advisor to the Director of Media Holding “CTC Media”

Oleg Malyshev, Football Advisory Team Leader at PwC Russia.

This edition of the Directors’ Club in Moscow will see an elite group of industry players gather to network in an informal setting and discuss the impact that Match TV, which starts broadcasting on 1 November 2015, will have on Russia’s sports industry and its further commercialisation.

The event is also held with the support of the Russian Football Premier League.

iSportconnect Chairman Michael Cunnah said: “The event should bring about some very intriguing discussions around broadcasting and the introduction of Match TV which launches very soon and what this will bring to the Russian sports industry. It promises to be another fascinating evening in Moscow.”

To register your interest please contactelyse.gallacher@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: iSportconnect Directors’ Club is an invitation only event open exclusively for CEOs, chairmen and director level executives from governing bodies, sports teams and sponsorship brands.

In partnership with:

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Global Partners:

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Hockey Star Wayne Gretzky Reunites With IMG

Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has once again teamed up with IMG, salve returning to the firm he worked with in the 80s and 90s.

Gretzky left the agency 20 years ago but the 53-year-old will be returning to be managed by a team of agents led by Ira Stahlberger in the US and Sam Galet in Canada.

An IMG statement released on Monday said, “Gretzky is currently looking to expand his brand and business portfolio across top-tier NHL and non-hockey partners.”

The agency will be working with him ‘to pursue opportunities in marketing, endorsements, licensing, speaking, broadcasting and new business ventures.’