A friend of Kobe Bryant is working to help the family of one of the victims who died alongside the NBA legend in a tragic helicopter crash in January.
John Altobelli was one of the nine people who lost their lives in the Calabasas, California, crash along with Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Prominent sports agent Scott Boras told The Los Angeles Times that he will help Altobelli’s daughter, Alexis, secure an internship with his company Boras Corp.— a task Bryant was trying to help set up before he passed away.
Alexis' interest in an internship with Boras' company came to light when the Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka spoke at the memorial for Bryant and his daughter earlier this week. Pelinka told the Staples Center crowd that Bryant was trying to get Alexis the internship before he took off that day.
“Kobe’s last human act was heroic. He wanted to use his platform to bless and shape a young girl’s future,” Pelinka said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bryant was texting Pelinka while he was on the helicopter with Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 14-year-old daughter Alyssa. Alyssa and Gianna were teammates on Bryant's Mamba basketball team and Altobelli was a well-known Orange Coast College baseball coach.
Pelinka told the audience that he was at church that morning when Bryant texted him about getting Alexis an internship with Boras and wanted to personally vouch for her with a recommendation.
Boras said he and Altobelli had known each other for years, attending the same church in Newport Beach and occasionally working together training his baseball clients. Both Boras' and Altobelli's sons played baseball in Orange County.
The sports agent told the newspaper he had already planned to invite both John and Alexis to his office. He said he will now bring the teenager in to figure out what kind of role she wants in his office.
Alexis was also invited to tour the Southern California offices of Boras’ company.
In another public memorial earlier this month, the Altobelli family was honored at Angel Stadium. They were also honored at the massive memorial earlier this week.