LOS ANGELES — When Pau Gasol joined the Los Angeles Lakers simply over 15 years in the past, the Spanish 7-footer banished his ego, redoubled his work ethic and instantly turned this workforce into contenders who finally turned champions.
Gasol and Kobe Bryant did all of it collectively, and their numbers now hold facet by facet within the Lakers’ enviornment.
The Lakers retired Gasol’s No. 16 jersey Tuesday night time, honoring the genteel massive man who spent the perfect seasons of his 18-year NBA profession with Bryant in Los Angeles.
The Lakers reached three straight NBA Finals after Gasol’s arrival in February 2008, profitable championships in 2009 and 2010.
“I feel I’ve finished nearly as good as I may to essentially embrace it and savor it, however tonight actually exceeds any dream or expectation that I’ve had,” Gasol mentioned earlier than the sport whereas carrying one championship ring on every hand. “It means a lot, and clearly with Kobe up there, it simply provides one thing significant and highly effective and unhappy and completely satisfied and painful and joyful. It’s lots of issues.”
Gasol’s banner was unveiled throughout a halftime ceremony that started with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, introducing a video through which an excited Kobe mentioned he was trying ahead to the day when Gasol gave a speech at heart court docket throughout his jersey retirement.
Gasol choked up whereas watching the video and standing in that actual spot, wiping tears from his eyes earlier than he spoke to the gang.
“I’m simply overwhelmed to see the faces right here, all of you,” Gasol mentioned. “It’s been my honor to put on this jersey, to play for this franchise and to assist this workforce. … I’d have by no means in one million years believed a day like this might come. It simply tells you to by no means say by no means. Simply push your self daily to be the perfect that you may be.”
Gasol’s versatile recreation complemented Bryant’s scoring prowess completely when Gasol determined to be a supporting participant to a fellow celebrity, and the 2 additionally shaped a deep off-court friendship that endured to Bryant’s loss of life in 2020.
Gasol thanked Vanessa Bryant throughout his speech: “Love you, sister. I’m proud to be your brother, and proud to be an uncle to your women.”
This 17-time NBA champion franchise usually solely retires the numbers of gamers within the Corridor of Fame, and Gasol is a first-time finalist for the consideration this yr with a robust probability of creating the minimize.
Gasol made three of his six profession All-Star groups throughout his time with Los Angeles whereas averaging 17.7 factors and 9.9 rebounds per recreation.
“The joy, the anticipation, the consideration obtained, it’s simply so massive that it’s been arduous to essentially take it in,” Gasol mentioned. “I’ve to maintain reminding myself that it’s a celebration. It’s nice. It’s pretty. It’s simply nice that you may expertise this in your life.”
The 42-year-old Gasol mentioned he struggled to sleep over the previous few days whereas he thought concerning the enormity of the Lakers’ gesture amid the still-strong recollections of his years on the West Coast.
The workforce scheduled the ceremony for halftime of the Lakers’ recreation towards the Memphis Grizzlies.
Gasol selected Tuesday night time for his Lakers jersey retirement for an excellent cause: He performed his first seven NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, his first workforce after he moved stateside in 2001.
Memphis traded Gasol to the Lakers in February 2008, and the deal reworked each franchises: Whereas Gasol and Bryant instantly shaped a dominant partnership, Memphis acquired a package deal that included Gasol’s youthful brother, Marc, who went on to have 11 largely glorious seasons with the Grizzlies.
Gasol’s mother and father, his brothers Marc and Adrià, Vanessa Bryant and Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss joined Gasol and his spouse on the court docket.
Gasol was solely the second Spanish participant in NBA historical past and the primary to win a hoop, and he believes his lengthy, profitable profession contributed to erasing the stereotype of the “tender” European participant.
Gasol famous that three Europeans now are arguably the highest three gamers within the league: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
“I’m proud to see that,” Gasol mentioned. “That conjures up not solely European children, however gamers internationally. Give your self an opportunity in case you actually need it. It’s been nice to see the sport develop globally.”
Gasol’s jersey represents the thirteenth quantity retired by the Lakers honoring 12 gamers. Bryant’s early-career No. 8 and late-career No. 24 are each retired.
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