Every now and then, a story comes along that flips expectations on their head. You might expect the son of an NBA star to chase a basketball dream. But for Michael Redd II, whose father is a former Bucks star, the path involves runways and private jets! NBA Star Michael Redd recently shared details about his son, who shares a minor similarity with the late Kobe Bryant.

This past weekend, Michael Redd, former Milwaukee Bucks star and Olympic gold medalist, shared a proud moment that caught everyone off guard. “This weekend my son graduated high school, and instead of heading to college, he’s making the bold move to jump straight into entrepreneurship,” Redd wrote on Instagram.

That alone raised eyebrows, but he added something even more powerful: “Proud doesn’t begin to cover it.” While the world expected the son of a pro to follow in his footsteps, Michael Redd II is now stepping into the aviation business. In a follow-up post on X, Redd opened up further: “While many of my peers are watching their children sink threes, I’m watching mine soar in the aviation world… and I couldn’t be more proud!”

He explained the choice wasn’t about talent; his son had the skills to play college hoops, but chose a path that felt true to him. “He could have pursued hoops, as I know he had the talent for D1 ball. Instead, he’s building his future in aviation, launching his journey as an 18-year-old private jet broker,” said Redd. “This journey reminds me that our greatest impact as parents isn’t producing carbon copies of ourselves, but raising children with the confidence to pursue what genuinely inspires them.”

This echoes the same kind of boldness we once saw in Kobe Bryant’s decision to skip college and go straight to the NBA. Back in 1996, Kobe shocked the basketball world when he passed on college offers and entered the draft directly from high school. But years later, former teammate John Salley revealed the deeper reason: “I said to him, ‘Why’d you not go to college?’ and he says, ‘I heard MJ was going to retire… and I wanted to make sure I played against him.’”

That wasn’t just ambition, it was an obsession with greatness. “He knew every single thing about MJ, and he felt he had the same mentality—and Kobe did, man,” Salley added.

Michael Redd is a proud father as his son chooses to justify his own journey of life, just like his teammate Kobe! Kobe decided to skip college and years later, talked about the decision as a legend. Turns out, the late LA superstar had a simple enough reason to skip college.

Kobe Bryant’s simple reason behind skipping college

When Kobe Bryant made the leap straight from Lower Merion High to the NBA, it wasn’t just about skipping class. It was about chasing a moment, “Yeah, he (MJ) was gonna retire,” Kobe said, “and I wanted to make sure that I played against him.” That simple sentence shaped history. Bryant didn’t want to miss his shot to face the greatest, and he didn’t.

But there was more under the surface. Kobe later admitted the decision wasn’t easy. “It’s a tough decision… because you’re going to be missing out on a big part of your life,” he told ESPN. He had always dreamed of playing for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, but it just wasn’t possible. “He wanted to go play for Mike Krzyzewski… but his parents were badly in need of money,” said Roland Lazenby.

Even as a teenager, Kobe stepped up when his family needed him. That pressure was real. “That’s going to the NBA, whether to go to college instead… It’s a tough decision,” Kobe said. “You have the option of going to college and getting a great education and play some basketball or go to the NBA… and get paid for doing so.”

In the end, Kobe got everything he dreamed of…he faced Jordan, he became a legend, and he inspired millions. And now, decades later, we’re seeing that same fearless mindset in a new space. Michael Redd II might not be lacing up in the NBA, but he’s chasing his dream with the same fire.

Different path, same kind of greatness!