On Monday, Kobe Bryant’s best friend and former agent Rob Pelinka opened up about one of the late star’s final wishes.
Just minutes before the basketball icon perished in a helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, Kobe had reached out to Pelinka via text to ask if he knew of a baseball agent who could help John Altobelli’s daughter Alexis secure an internship.
John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa died in the crash. Alexis and Altobelli’s son from his first marriage, J.J., survive them.
Pelinka told the star-studded crowd at Kobe’s public memorial, “I grabbed my phone and text Kobe back that I had seen the baseball agent at a Lakers game just the other night and was happy to help him with whatever he wanted.”
“It was now just past 9:30. Kobe texted back explaining his desire to help a friend of his secure a baseball agency internship for one of his young daughters. Kobe vouched for the girl’s character, intellect, and work ethic. He clearly wanted to champion a bright future for her,” Rob went on. “I text Kobe right back and said I would put a plan in motion to help get that done. A handful of minutes later, Kobe and Gianna and seven other beautiful souls ascended into heaven. Kobe had been texting me from the helicopter.”
Pelinka noted that Kobe was trying to “make people’s lives better all the way up until his final text.” He added, “Kobe’s last human act was heroic. He wanted to use his platform to bless and shape a young girl’s future. Hasn’t Kobe done that for all of us?”
Prominent baseball agent Scott Boras is honoring Kobe’s request, according to The Los Angeles Times.
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A source told the outlet, “Boras has been in contact with [Alexis’ older brother, J.J.] and will create a position for Alexis, who will be able to rotate through the company’s various departments, including marketing, baseball operations, sports science, and office administration.”
The site noted that Boras had already invited Alexis and J.J. to tour his office and discuss internship opportunities.
Boras is known for representing Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Chris Davis and Stephen Strasburg.