Seeing himself the immortalization made by the Los Angeles Lakers to Pau Gasol’s No. 16 up to their historic rafters, Anthony Davis can only be pumped up and inspired for his number to be potentially elevated also in the future.
As he believes that it was a well-deserved celebration for Gasol, Davis is determined to cement a legacy of his own in the purple-and-gold record books as another iconic big man of the franchise.
“That’s a huge honor to be up there with the greats – and he deserves it to be up there,” Davis said of Gasol, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “The list of big men that came through the Lakers organization and dominated and left their mark, it’s hard not to think about it.
“Obviously, I want to be in that category, in that group. And whenever my body tells me that I’m done playing, hopefully, I’m able to come back here and have the ceremony that Pau and the rest of the big men and other former Lakers have had.”
The Spanish legend just became the 12th player in history to have his jersey retired by the historic Laker organization. Upon helping Los Angeles to clinch two more titles as the trusted right-hand man of the late great Kobe Bryant, the honoring made to Gasol can’t be more justifiable enough on his brilliance and wonder as a seven-foot gentle giant powered by fundamentals.
And looking at the case of Davis, it seems that he is making significant progress to fully leave an indelible contribution to the Lakers. After helping them to capture its 17th title last 2020, he is now gradually taking over and set to inherit the throne from LeBron James as the club’s main man.
And Tuesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies can signify it, as he made Gasol proud with his monstrous 30 markers and 22 rebounds in an efficient shooting to lead L.A. all the way.
