Top 4 NBA Players Who Had Successful Careers After Retirement

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Long gone are the days when retirement was looked upon as a complete wrap-up of an athlete’s career. A few legendary NBA players over the years have fearlessly defied the odds and established their careers all over again after announcing their official retirement from the National Basketball Association. From the legendary NBA player Michael Jordan to the late Lakers’ sensational shooting guard, Kobe Bryant, the history of the National Basketball Association has witnessed numerous path-breaking players who have touched a new set of unparalleled highs in their careers after their official retirement.

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In this article we will take a look at the top four NBA players who defied the odds and built successful careers after announcing their retirement.

Top 4 NBA Players Who Had Successful Careers After Retirement

• Michael Jordan

Often hailed as one of the greatest players in the history of the National Basketball Association, the former professional basketball player, Michael Jordan, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association, is at the first spot in our list of the top four NBA players whose careers flourished after they announced their official retirements from the NBA.

Michael Jordan played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association between 1984 and 2003, clinching six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and announced his official retirement in 2005 after playing his last season in 2003 with the Washington Wizards. Shortly after announcing his official retirement, Michael Jordan started off with his Jordan Brand (Nike), a billion-dollar empire and also became the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, establishing himself as the first-ever NBA player to become a billionaire.

• Magic Johnson

At the second spot in our list of the top four National Basketball Association players who defied the odds and built successful careers after announcing their retirement, we have the American businessman and former professional basketball player, Magic Johnson, who is still widely regarded as the greatest point guard of all time. Well, Magic Johnson spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association and successfully led the team to five NBA championships during their “Showtime” era.

Magic Johnson’s glorious NBA career came to an abrupt end after he tested positive for HIV, forcing him to announce an early retirement in 1991. Magic Johnson fought the odds with all the courage after his retirement and established himself as one of the richest National Basketball Association players in the world with multiple investments in real estate, Starbucks, movie theatres, and sports franchises. Currently, Magic Johnson is the co-owner of the LA Dodgers, LA Sparks, and Washington Commanders.

• Shaquille O’Neal

Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four NBA players whose careers flourished after they announced their official retirements from the National Basketball Association, we have another legendary American former professional basketball player, Shaquille O’Neal, who is currently working as a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. The four-time NBA champion, Shaquille O’Neal played for a total of six teams throughout his 19-year career in the National Basketball Association.

Often hailed as one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time, Shaquille O’Neal announced his official retirement from the NBA in 2011 and became a media personality shortly after with his show “Inside the NBA” (TNT). As of now, Shaquille O’Neal has established himself as one of the most prominent media personalities and also earns an enormous fortune through lucrative brand endorsement deals and contracts.

• Kobe Bryant

The late legendary American professional basketball player, Kobe Bryant, is at the fourth spot in our list of the top four NBA players who defied the odds and built successful careers after announcing their retirement. The iconic shooting guard, Kobe Bryant, spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association and often hailed as one of the most influential basketball players in the world, tragically passed away in a shocking helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California, while traveling with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant.

Kobe Bryant announced his official retirement from the National Basketball Association on 13 April 2016 and went on to build a multimedia content company “Granity Studios” in full swing. Kobe Bryant’s start-up entirely focused on creating original stories that blend sports with themes of education, inspiration, and personal growth, aiming to inspire young athletes and foster emotional and mental development. Kobe Bryant produced an Academy Award-winning animated short film, “Dear Basketball,” based on Kobe’s retirement letter, and a Showtime documentary “Kobe Bryant’s Muse”, which offered a closer look at Bryant’s life and basketball career.

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