Back to the Los Angeles Lakers Newsfeed

Kobe Bryant returns to Staples Center for jersey retirement, but he never really left

Toward the end of Kobe Bryant's career, Rob Pelinka decided he had to save Bryant from himself, and, well, save himself from Bryant.

So he pulled out a copy of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and scoured the uniform player contract for language that would keep Bryant from jumping out of an airplane with a parachute, and forcing his agent to do it too.

So Bryant got wiser the next time. Shortly after his retirement, the two set out on a helicopter ride and Bryant didn't tell Pelinka of his daredevil plan. Bryant and the pilot looked at each other and Bryant nodded subtly.