Pau Gasol gives TEARFUL tribute to Kobe Bryant during jersey retirement ceremony
Former Lakers Great Pau Gasol Joins Elite Company with Jersey Retirement Ceremony at Crypto.com Arena.
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PHOTO: LUIS SINCO/LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY
On Tuesday night, a ceremony was held at Crypto.com Arena to retire the jersey of former Lakers player Pau Gasol. The event was bittersweet, as Gasol’s close friend and teammate, Kobe Bryant, was absent. The unexpected death of Bryant in January 2020 shocked the basketball world, and it continues to affect players and fans who feel his impact deeply. The emotional tribute that Gasol paid to Bryant served as a reminder of the late player’s impact on both basketball and the people who knew him.
During his six-year stint with the Lakers, Gasol made significant contributions to the team, and his jersey retirement ceremony was a touching tribute to his achievements. He was acquired from Memphis in a substantial trade in 2008 and played a vital role in leading the Lakers to consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010. Gasol’s time with the Lakers also resulted in three of his six All-Star nods, and his impact on the team was significant.
At the ceremony, Gasol spoke tearfully and expressed his sorrow over Bryant’s absence following his death in a helicopter crash in January 2020. “I miss him,” Gasol said. “I miss him so much like many of us do. I love him, I wish he was here with Gigi. I really do. But I think he’ll be proud and he was looking forward to this moment so, I love you brother.”
Gasol credited Bryant with inspiring and challenging him to become a better player and person. “He definitely inspired me and showed me what it took to be the best player that you could be,” Gasol said. “The work ethic, the dedication, the mindset going into it, he challenged me to be better.”
“He really elevated me as he did with most of the players that we had, I think all of us,” Gasol said of Bryant. “When you’re around a player or a person of that caliber—that demands excellence of himself and everyone else—I think that’s something you want to be around.”
Kobe Bryant’s Vision Comes True as Pau Gasol’s Jersey is Retired by the Lakers
Kobe Bryant predicted at an Oscar ceremony in 2018 that Gasol’s No. 16 jersey would hang among his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys. This prediction has finally come true. Bryant had said that Gasol was instrumental in winning championships for the Lakers and that his jersey would be retired alongside his own.
As they raised Gasol’s jersey to the rafters alongside Bryant’s, it became clear that the two players had forged a bond that transcended basketball. Gasol’s bond with Kobe Bryant’s family remains strong as he stays in touch with Vanessa and even named his child, born in 2020, after Kobe’s late daughter Gianna. Vanessa and her children also attended the ceremony where the Lakers retired Gasol’s jersey.
The ceremony was a reminder of the power of sports to unite people and honor those who have left a lasting legacy. During Gasol’s jersey retirement celebration with the Lakers community, it was evident that those who adored Kobe Bryant would constantly hold his spirit dear in their hearts and minds.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)