Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant had an unbreakable bond as teammates with the LA Lakers and maintained a brotherly relationship afterwards. Even before the franchise announced they were retiring Gasol’s jersey, Bryant already knew where his number should be placed.
In 2018, Bryant was asked during the Oscars about his thoughts on the possibility of Gasol retiring his jersey number. Without hesitation, the 18-time All-Star shared the desire to see his friend’s number removed from him next to his own. And that’s where the Lakers decided to place Pau’s number.
“There’s no debate. Pau, when he retires, he’ll have his number in the rafters next to mine,” Bryant said.
“The reality is that I don’t win those championships without Pau. The city of Los Angeles doesn’t have those two championships without Pau. So, we know that. Everybody knows that.
“I’m looking forward to the day he gives me his speech on Center Court in front of all the fans who have supported him over the years. It’s going to be an amazing night.”
Gasol and Bryant shared the field for seven seasons, winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. With Pau, the Lakers became an elite team and gave the Black Mamba two more rings. He was also a three-time All-Star with the team.
The Spaniard averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists during his seven seasons in Los Angeles. He is beloved by Lakers fans and has also maintained a close relationship with the organization.
Also read: Pau Gasol reviews his relationship with Kobe Bryant: “I didn’t come here to get into any battle with him”
How good was Pau Gasol?
Pau Gasol is considered by many to be one of the best international players to set foot in the NBA. He was first drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2001 with the third pick, but was immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. From there, he edged out his draft partners to win Rookie of the Year.
He became a Grizzlies fan favorite and was also able to lead the team to three playoff appearances. In the 2007-08 season, he was traded to the Lakers for several players and even the draft rights of his brother, Marc. It was then that he became more well-known and had great support behind the Lakers fans. .
While Bryant suffered from injuries and the team wasn’t making the postseason, it slowed down a bit. Later, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he captured his excellence once again and appeared in two more All-Star games. Like his former teammate Kobe, Gasol had his last All-Star Game in 2016.
Overall, Gasol’s storied NBA career culminated in an impressive international career. Last year, he was named a Hall of Fame finalist, cementing his legacy in the world of basketball.
Also read: Which LA Lakers players had their jersey numbers retired? Watching the retirement of Hall of Famer Pau Gasol’s jersey