Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Kobe Bryant Shades Parents in Open Letter to His Younger Self

Kobe*Kobe Bryant retired in April after 20 years in the league, and on Wednesday, he penned an open letter to his 17-year-old self on The Players’ Tribune, in which he highlights how to handle millions while your family and friends expect handouts.

“You need to figure out a way to invest in the future of your family and friends,” Bryant wrote. “I said INVEST. I did not say GIVE.”

Kobe has previously been vocal about the rocky relationship he shares with his parent, and in his letter, he did share some blame for allowing his wealth to “[hold his family and friends] back”.

“You will come to understand that you were taking care of them because it made YOU feel good,” Bryant wrote. “It made YOU happy to see them smiling and without a care in the world — and that was extremely selfish of you.”

READ RELATED STORY: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant: ‘We Are Expecting Our Third Baby Girl!!!’

Kobe also mentions how proud he is of his sisters for carving out their own path after being angry and resentful at him for “weaning them off” his money.

“They’re very smart, college-educated [women],” Bryant wrote. “I’m really proud of them. They were able to get their own jobs, get their own lives, take care of themselves. Now they have a better sense of self, of who they are as people, instead of being resentful because they were relying on me.”

 Pam and Joe Bryant
Pam and Joe Bryant

Bryant may have written the letter to his younger self,  but it’s clear the letter was also meant as a message for all young, millionaire athletes.

“Trust me,” Bryant wrote, “setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache, some of which remains to this day.”

“Understand that you are about to be the leader of the family, and this involves making tough choices, even if your siblings and friends do not understand them at the time”

Read the full letter here.

 

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