Kobe Bryant Inspired Lakers’ NBA Championship Victory

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The Lakers captured their first NBA title since 2010, when Bryant led them to the last of his five career crowns.

"There would be times in my hotel room here — when you're in a bubble for 100 days, it's tough — there would be times in the middle of the night, I would hear his voice: 'Stay the course. Finish the task,'" said Pelinka.

"He said, 'I'll give you two, three years, you'll fix this. You'll get the Lakers back on top.'

Pelinka looked to the heavens and said, "I guess you were right, man. You gave me the energy to do it."

Davis received encouragement from Bryant at games in the months before the tragedy.

"He would come to the game and just tell us, 'This is y'all year. This is y'all year. Go out and take it,'" Davis said.

"He had a lot of confidence in our team. He had a lot of confidence in our organization to go out there and win it this year."

Outside the Lakers' home arena, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, fans took to the streets chanting, "Kobe, Kobe," despite being urged to celebrate at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

'Smiling down on us'