The worst kept “secret” in Los Angeles was finally made official Tuesday when the Los Angeles Lakers announced Rob Pelinka would serve as the team’s new general manager. Kobe Bryant’s former agent has been rumored for the position since hours after the Lakers fired general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss and named Magic Johnson as the team’s new president of basketball operations.
“I am beyond grateful to join the Lakers front office,” Pelinka said in a statement issued to the media. “The Lakers are a gold standard for sports franchises in the world, so we all share a responsibility to pursue excellence in everything we do.