Another honorable day in the Los Angeles Lakers history, as Pau Gasol officially joins the franchise’s greatest on Tuesday.
As such, the Spanish great can’t contain his emotions of finally seeing his No. 16 to be up in the Lakers’ rafters, and the fact that his jersey is placed just side by side with his former running mate Kobe Bryant, it can’t be more special.
Gasol went on to thank the entire organization, the Lakers faithful, and most especially Bryant, whom he called a “brother who elevated me, inspired me, challenged me to be a better player â just to be a better man, overall.”
“I love him, I wish he was here with Gigi and I really do. But I think he will be proud and he was looking forward to this moment. I love you brother.”
Gasol is now the 13th player in history to have his jersey retired by the glamorous Lakers franchise.
Upon arriving in 2008, Gasol ultimately revived Los Angeles’ powerhouse status, serving as the right-hand man of the late great Bryant in leading the club towards two more NBA titles at the tail end of the 2000s decade.
