The Los Angeles Lakers are alongside the Boston Celtics, the most storied franchises in the NBA, so the fact that they retired Pau Gasol’s #16 jersey forever, hanging it next to Kobe Bryant’s, is yet another proof of what a sensational and impactful player the Spaniard was, specially when he was a key component of the team’s back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.
Vanessa Bryant makes Pau Gasol and L.A. tear up with Kobe Bryant video
Vanessa Bryant gave Pau Gasol a heartwarming suprise
The Lakers took this Tuesday night’s game against Gasol’s first team in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies, to honor him and retire his #16 jersey at halftime, and Vanessa Bryant,Kobe Bryant’s widow and friend of the Spaniard who introduced the moment for him.
“It means so much, and obviously with Kobe up there, it just adds something meaningful and powerful and sad and happy and painful and joyful. It’s a lot of things.”
Pau Gasol’s inspiring story
Pau Gasol then went on to say that when he was growing up, he would never imagine that the Lakers will one day retire his jersey.
“It’s been my honor to wear this jersey, to play for this franchise and to help this team. … I would have never in a million years believed a day like this could come. It just tells you to never say never. Just push yourself every day to be the best that you can be.”