Before Rob Pelinka took over as Lakers general manager in 2017, he spent a career as a sports agent who represented Kobe Bryant.

Over those years, the two formed a close relationship, and that extended to Kobe’s last living day.

Pelinka spoke at Monday’s public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. During the Lakers general manager’s eulogy, he revealed that Kobe was texting him from the helicopter that crashed on Jan. 26. Kobe was asking Pelinka if he knew of any baseball agents as he wanted to help John Altobelli’s surviving daughter, Alexis, get in touch with someone to secure an internship.

John along with Kobe and seven others would die in that crash.

Pelinka said:

“I grabbed my phone and text Kobe back that I had seen the baseball agent at a Lakers game just the other night and was happy to help him with whatever he wanted. It was now just past 9:30. Kobe text back explaining his desire to help a friend of his secure a baseball agency internship for one of his young daughters. Kobe vouched for the girl’s character, intellect and work ethic. He clearly wanted to champion a bright future for her. I text Kobe right back and said I would put a plan in motion to help get that done. A handful of minutes later, Kobe and Gianna and seven other beautiful souls ascended into heaven. Kobe had been texting me from the helicopter.”

It was the kind of story that showed Kobe’s desire to help others.

On the day of the helicopter crash, Shaquille O’Neal’s son, Shareef, also shared that Kobe reached out to him that morning. Shareef was unable to reply before the time of the crash.