Darren Rovell details how bad financial advice cost NBA legend Kobe Bryant an easy $23M payday

Long before Kobe Bryant built a colossal business empire off the court, he recruited a courtside sports reporter straight off the sidelines.

Appearing on OutKick's "The Craig Carton Show," sports media vet Darren Rovell opened up about the moment the Lakers icon approached him at media day to make an out-of-the-blue pitch: "You know, once a year you interview me on business.

I think you're one of the smartest guys.

I love business too, haven't done anything, and would love to figure out if there's some business thing we can get into together.

Can I have your number?" THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.

DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW! That encounter launched an unconventional business partnership between Rovell and the NBA legend.

Kobe brought his "Mamba Mentality" straight to business school case studies and investment ideas.

And Rovell quickly discovered Kobe’s mind was incapable of idling, even during dead-of-night text exchanges.

"3 a.m., 2 a.m., every time.

Every time I responded, even though he was in L.A., there was the dot, dot, dot back.

He's awake... same cycling brain, same everything," Rovell shared.

TRAVIS KELCE AMONG PRO ATHLETES DEFRAUDED BY PONZI SCHEME THAT FUNNELED FUNDS INTO ONE STOCK When Kobe played Rovell one-on-one for his 30th birthday, he refused to let a single shot touch the rim.

Rovell asked if he could at least get a shot off, and Kobe shut that down.

"No, of course not.