Rob Pelinka

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Pelinka's career includes a rare combination of accomplishments as both a player and executive. He is the only person in University of Michigan history to be part of three NCAA Final Four teams, winning the national championship in 1989. As an agent, he represented Kobe Bryant for over a decade and negotiated hundreds of millions in contracts. As Lakers GM, he built the 2020 championship roster and later pulled off the blockbuster trade for Luka Dončić. His 1993 Walter Byers Award recognized his excellence in both academics and athletics, a distinction that underscores his unique path from college athlete to top executive.

AwardsPelinka won an NBA championship as general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. As a player, he won the NCAA national championship with Michigan in 1989 and reached two additional Final Fours. He received the NCAA Male Walter Byers Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1993 and has been inducted into the Sports Agent Hall of Fame. He has not won NBA Executive of the Year.

Honours & Distinctions

Sports Agent Hall of Fame

Sports Agent Hall of Fame·2020

Inducted for career as a top NBA agent.

NCAA Male Walter Byers Scholar Athlete of the Year

NCAA·1993

Awarded for excellence in academics and athletics.

Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation Board of Directors

Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation·2020

Serves on the board of the foundation honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

Records & Feats

Only Michigan player on three NCAA Final Four teams

Career Milestone·1993

Pelinka is the only player in University of Michigan history to have been a member of three Final Four teams: 1989, 1992, and 1993.

First agent to represent Kobe Bryant through entire career

Career Milestone·2016

Pelinka represented Kobe Bryant from early in his career until Bryant's retirement, a rare long-term agent-client relationship.