 Up next in the memorial service was Rob Palenka, not only Kobe's agent for his entire career, but a close personal friend, vacationed together, mentor, pal, and in the end, a guy, well, two guys who loved each other. He's now the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. And here is Rob Palenka on Kobe, the husband. When God made Kobe, the next great act of his was to fashion Vanessa.