NBA Notes: Kobe Bryant starts $100 million investment fund

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NEW YORK -- Retired NBA star Kobe Bryant is moving to Wall Street, announcing the formation of a $100 million venture capital fund to invest in media, technology and data companies.

The fund, known as Bryant Stibel, is being co-managed by investor Jeff Stibel. The two met through mutual friends, Stibel said.

Bryant Stibel has already made investments in 15 companies, including LegalZoom and home juicing company Juicero, according to their website. The firm was founded in 2013, but is going public now with the retirement of Bryant from the Lakers.

Stibel said the firm is focused on companies at all stages of growth.

"We are actively looking for great entrepreneurs, but we are in no hurry to deploy capital," he said.

Bryant earned roughly $680 million in salary and endorsements during his 18-year NBA career, according to Forbes, and has been in the process of transition from professional athlete to businessman. Bryant created a company in 2014 called Kobe Inc. to help handle his image.

Timberwolves: Rubio ready to mentor Dunn
RIO DE JANEIRO -- When Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden were hired to take over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the expectation within in the organization and around the NBA was that they were coming in to make significant changes to a franchise with the longest-running playoff drought in the league.

Ricky Rubio heard his name floated in the constant trade rumor mill, never more than after the Wolves selected Providence's Kris Dunn, another point guard, with the fifth overall pick in the June draft.

Rubio remained quiet throughout the summer, putting all of his focus into grieving the loss of his mother and then joining his national team to prepare for the Olympics. Now that the Rio Games have concluded and Rubio has earned a bronze medal with Spain, he said he is looking forward to returning to Minnesota to work with Dunn and reiterated his desire to remain with the Timberwolves and help turn them into a winner.

"Really it's a challenge. When a young guy like him who has a lot of potential comes, I think we can really play together," Rubio told The Associated Press. "But if we don't (share the floor often), I can really help him" (see full story).

Bucks: Team signs veteran guard Jason Terry
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent guard Jason Terry.

The team announced the signing Monday. Terms were not disclosed.

Bucks general manager John Hammond calls the 38-year-old Terry "a true professional who understands what it takes to be successful" in the NBA.

The 17-year NBA veteran spent the last two seasons with Houston. Terry played in 72 games, including seven starts, with the Rockets last season, averaging 5.9 points, 1.4 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-2 guard was selected by Atlanta with the 10th overall pick in the 1999 draft and spent the first five seasons of his career with the Hawks.

Terry then played eight seasons with Dallas, including the Mavericks' 2011 NBA Championship team. He also has played for Boston and Brooklyn.

USA: Transition time for U.S. national team
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mike Krzyzewski is heading out, Gregg Popovich is coming in and maybe LeBron James would even come back.

It's a time of transition for both the U.S. Olympic team and international basketball and it starts, as usual, with the Americans on top.

The U.S. won its third straight gold medal Sunday, beating Serbia 96-66 in the final game for Krzyzewski, who led the program for a decade and became the first coach to win three Olympic gold medals. He also guided the Americans to a pair of world championships, an 88-1 record and from the bottom back to the top.

"It's been a joy," Krzyzewski said. "I've been so lucky to have been given this opportunity."

Now it goes to Popovich, the other coach Jerry Colangelo considered before choosing Krzyzewski after taking control of USA Basketball in 2005. Like Krzyzewski, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Popovich is a military man who attended the Air Force Academy and has built one of sports' most successful organizations while winning five championships with the San Antonio Spurs.

Krzyzewski has used the military as an inspiration for USA Basketball, referring to playing for the team as service and sacrifice, and Popovich should be an ideal choice to continue that relationship.

"You have the best guy in the world who's going to coach the team now and that says a lot for the program that's been developed," Krzyzewski said (see full story).

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