LeBron and Kobe teammate has invested in over 85 companies after $100m NBA career

A second-round pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, Michael Redd could have gone the way of many players delighted just to make the NBA.

But he was determined to be more and carved out a brilliant career with the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as featuring on an iconic 2008 Olympic roster.

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He earned around $100 million on the court and has been hugely successful since with a thriving venture capital business.

Redd made the NCAA Final Four with Ohio State as a sophomore and the Bucks swooped with the 43rd pick in the 2000 NBA Draft.

Averaging just 2.2 points in six games as a rookie, his production increased dramatically and between 2003 and 2009 the guard had six-straight campaigns with over 20 points a game.

An All-Star in 2004, Redd was picked for the 2008 Team USA Olympic roster.

Named the Redeem Team with a mission to avenge bronze at the previous Games, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Jason Kidd all featured.

Redd retired in 2012 after a shirt stint with the Phoenix Suns with 11,972 career points, an Olympic Gold Medal, and plenty in the bank.

But he wasn’t done.

“I wasn’t just happy being on the Bucks team, I wasn’t just happy coming off the bench, I wasn’t just happy starting, I wasn’t just happy being an All-Star,” said via Yahoo Finance.

Michael Redd’s post-NBA career

Redd founded his own firm, 22 Ventures, and has invested in over 85 companies in tech and media.

His advice to budding hoopers and investors is exactly the same.

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AFP

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“Be humble, be hungry, and go out and be able to be aggressive,” he said. “Those were the things that were foundational for me.

“When I say humble, come in and learn, learn from the vets, learn from the greats, come in early, stay late, be the first one there at practice, be the last one to leave practice.

“Be hungry, I’m in the weight room getting stronger, I’m doing extra sprints to get in better shape.”

The underdog mentality runs through Redd’s veins.

“Be aggressive,” he added. “When I’m on the court, I’m not taking a backseat to anybody. I’m respectful, but I’m not taking a backseat to anybody because I belong.

“So when you get into the position of being there, you can’t operate out of scarcity. You actually have to go out and be aggressive, and attack.

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“You’re not just there to be there, you actually belong on this roster.”

Redd is active on social media and has recently started sharing his sports takes to grow his audience.

He also hosts a motivational podcast called Betting on Yourself, where he interviews entrepreneurs, athletes, and thought leaders.

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