Rob Pelinka and Dallas GM Nico Harrison’s bond traces back to 2003 when both were rising executives who had earned the trust of a young Kobe Bryant. While Nike’s focus was on LeBron James, Harrison was determined to recruit Bryant, attending every home game until his persistence paid off.
That summer, he and Pelinka secured a $40 million Nike deal for Bryant, forging a partnership that extended through global travels, family vacations, and ultimately, deep personal loss after Bryant’s passing in 2020.
All of this is why Harrison felt comfortable discussing the biggest gamble of his career only with Pelinka.
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