But it is surprising to see Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka claim that Bryant had dinner with Ledger after watching the movie. Because Ledger died six months before the film premiered.
Via ESPN’s Baxter Holmes:
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“And Kobe used some of that in his game against the Knicks.”
“The Dark Knight” was released in July 2008, six months after Ledger died. A source with direct knowledge said no such arrangement was made and no dinner ever took place.
Holmes shared this story, which was originally told in 2018, as an example of how other Lakers staffers don’t trust Pelinka when he tells a tale.
“Pelinka’s penchant for ‘storytelling,’ multiple Lakers staffers told ESPN, is viewed as disingenuous — at best,” Holmes writes.
Anyone who knows anything about “The Dark Knight” should know Ledger died before the film premiered. Also, when exactly did Bryant watch this movie?
The film was released July 18, 2008, and Bryant didn’t play the Knicks in Madison Square Garden until Feb. 2, 2009. At that point, Ledger had been dead for more than a year. Nothing about Pelinka’s story holds up.
So why lie about it? As Holmes points out, this is just who Pelinka is. Most of his story is pointing out how Pelinka’s odd behavior has led to problems for the Lakers.
