The tragic death of Kobe Bryant defined this unprecedented season for the Los Angeles Lakers, ending with the franchise’s 17th NBA championship.
L.A. never hid the team tried to channel Bryant’s Mamba Mentality to fire themselves up for the pursuit of the long-awaited title in the Orlando bubble.
From watching a tribute video honoring the five-time champion’s legacy to wearing the special “Black Mamba” jerseys, the Lakers wanted to make sure the franchise legend accompanied them on this journey, at least spiritually.
But perhaps no one wanted to honor Bryant’s memory more than the franchise’s vice president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka.