Agent for Victor Wembanyama Turned to Rob Pelinka for Insight on Kobe Bryant
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Los Angeles, CA — San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama wanted a deeper understanding of Kobe Bryant’s famed work habits, so his representative arranged a private lunch with Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka last April, according to ESPN.
Pelinka, who served as Bryant’s longtime agent before taking over the Lakers’ front office, met with Bouna Ndiaye to discuss how the five-time champion approached preparation, problem-solving and personal development. “The way they think is different,” Ndiaye told ESPN. “Just their curiosity. How they study and watch things.”
During the meeting, Pelinka shared examples of Bryant’s unconventional research methods, including studying great white sharks to guard Allen Iverson and examining the works of Michelangelo to understand creating “something extraordinary under impossible conditions.”
Ndiaye said the goal was to design training strategies tailored to Wembanyama’s unique profile. “I wanted to understand how Kobe did things so that we could learn from him,” he explained. “Victor is not like anybody else. We have to be creative to build programs that are unique to him.”
At 22, the 7-foot-5 French star has drawn comparisons to Bryant for both his rapid rise and relentless drive. While Wembanyama remains committed to San Antonio, the Lakers connection underscores his camp’s interest in adopting Bryant’s celebrated “Mamba Mentality.”
Elsewhere, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson recently cautioned the league about the long-term threat posed by Wembanyama’s Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder, calling both teams difficult matchups for years to come.
Source: LakersNation.com
