When things were at their most difficult and trying during 100-plus days inside the bubble, Rob Pelinka said he often heard Kobe Bryant's voice in his head telling him to "stay the course" and "finish the task."
After the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the top by winning the franchise's 17th world championship on Sunday, Pelinka looked toward the ceiling during his postgame interview session and got emotional thinking about his best friend.
"When I took the job, I remember he said, 'Hey, I know what you did for me for 20 years,'" said the Lakers vice president of basketball operations and GM, who used to be Bryant's agent.