“I’ll Be Bugging off a Long Time”: Even Before Winning His First NBA Title, Kobe Bryant Warned the World About His Success

In 1999, a young Kobe Bryant signed a massive contract with the LA Lakers. While many doubted the youngster’s immediate impact, he silenced his critics by winning the NBA championship the very next year.

At that time, no one saw Bryant’s potential as better than ‘Black Mamba’ himself. In a resurfaced clip, a young Bryant humble-bragged about the success he was fated to achieve. The late NBA star foretold his own future at 20 years old before he was an NBA champion.

Kobe Bryant looked far ahead in the future

In 1996, 18-year-old Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut as a Laker. Pretty soon, he was emerging as the best guard in the league and, within two seasons, signed a contract extension. His new six-year contract was worth a whopping $70 million.

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Following his major contract renewal, the young Bryant was interviewed on the NBC Halftime Report. When asked if he is at the level he always wanted to be, the 20-year-old simply said, “This is just the beginning.” He humbly said he’s learning and growing every single day and has a long way to go.

Bryant would win his first of five NBA championship titles in 2000. A year before, he said in that interview, “You guys gonna be seeing a lot of me for the rest of my career. I’ll be bugging off a long time.” 

Black Mamba became a 3-peat champion with consecutive titles in 2001 and 2002. He won again in 2009 and 2010. He retired in 2016 after 20 outstanding seasons in the NBA. In more ways than one, Kobe Bryant proved his statement true.

At that time, there was a word of tension between Bryant and fellow Lakers legend, Shaquille O’Neal. But in the same interview, Shaq had high words for his young teammate and a word of advice. “He has to be the first Kobe.” Bryant certainly became an inspiration for many.

Kobe Bryant made millions in his lifetime

Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, tragically passed away in 2020 in a helicopter crash. At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at $600 million.

Lucrative NBA contracts and multi-faceted ventures made Bryant one of the wealthiest athletes in the world. His legacy still continues to earn money that goes towards his family.

Most of the continued stream of revenue comes from Bryant’s $400 million investment in the sports drink, Body Armor. With the recent acquisition by Nike, his widow, Vanessa Bryant, and their surviving children received a vast sum.

Moreover, Nike is in the works of releasing a collection under the Black Mamba brand, which could also potentially benefit his family. The late NBA legend is also set to become the face of the NBA 2K24 video game.

Nonetheless, no amount of money outlasts the impact Kobe Bryant made on the game of basketball. He may be gone, but as he said, his name will resonate for a “long time.” 

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