Live Bar, June 13th recently, the Lakers legend Jerry West recalled Kobe in the Podcast P with Paul George podcasting program.
West said: “One thing made me feel that he had real trust in me. At that time, I worked in Memphis (leaving the Lakers to join the grizzly bear management in 2002) and we were talking about what to do in the future. To some extent, it seems to be illegal recruitment, but I don’t think it is illegal recruitment. He lives in my house and he always eats at my house. To him, I feel like my father.
“He became a free agent. He called me. At that time, his agent was Pelinka. I met them in the hotel room. Kobe said he wanted to play in Memphis. I think he was joking. Kobe said he was serious. I don’t want him to join the grizzly bear because of my relationship. He belongs to that particular place.”
West used to be the general manager of the Lakers. In 1996, he exchanged devac from Charlotte Hornets for Kobe, the 13th rookie of that year.
