Pau Gasol honors Kobe ahead of Lakers jersey retirement

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pau Gasol pays homage to Kobe Bryant ahead of Lakers jersey retirement

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 3/7/23

Pau Gasol and the late Kobe Bryant played together with the Los Angeles Lakers for parts of seven seasons, winning back-to-back titles in the process.

The two shared a bond on and off the court. Almost immediately after Gasol joined Kobe in Los Angeles midway through the 2007-08 season, this relationship extended to Bryant’s family.

It’s also what makes Tuesday evening bittersweet for the six-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer.

Gasol is set to have his jersey retired as the Lakers host one of his former teams in the Memphis Grizzlies in Southern California. It comes a little over three years after Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were among those killed in a helicopter accident in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas.

In talking about this ahead of his jersey retirement, Gasol paid homage to Bryant. He was also pretty emotional from the podium.

“I miss him a lot. There’s nothing I can do about it other than love his family. That’s how I deal with it,” Pau Gasol on the loss of Kobe Bryant.

Gasol and Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, have remained close since the all-time Lakers great died just over three years ago. Vanessa even honored Gasol with an introduction on Tuesday night.

Vanessa Bryant with a beautiful introduction for Pau Gasol's jersey retirement.

(: @Lakers)pic.twitter.com/sG0LQXU9gX
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) March 8, 2023

During February’s NBA All-Star Game, he was given the Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award by Vanessa.

Pau Gasol talks about life after Kobe Bryant

There’s certainly a lot of emotion here. Once Gasol’s jersey number is elevated to the rafters inside Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night, the reality of the moment will hit.

“Just trying to little by little take it in and just digest and comprehend that my number, my jersey will be up there with those great amazing players and names in the history of our game. And obviously being next to Kobe, seeing his name, still emotional,” Gasol said.

Gasol had more words about his relationship with Kobe Bryant, his retirement ceremony and more.

Pau Gasol on his bond with Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/HhlcH3pEom
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 8, 2023

Gasol and Bryant won their first championship together back in 2008-09 after defeating the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals.

Los Angeles then repeated the following season via a seven-game series win over the Boston Celtics in the Finals. It’s still considered one of the better Finals matchups in NBA history. Bryant and Gasol combined to average 47.2 points, 19.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists in that series.

Now, less than a dozen years later, Gasol will be honored with Kobe Bryant. But much like when the late-great NBA legend was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame, it will come with a somber backdrop.