Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol honored Kobe Bryant repeatedly on Tuesday night as his jersey went up at Crypto.com Arena.

Ahead of his big night, catch all the stories leading up to Pau Gasol's jersey retirement for the Lakers, his relationship with Kobe Bryant and his work ...

I think it’s the highlight of my life, this moment that we’re about to experience,” Gasol told FOX Sports on Monday at a Gasol Foundation event to reduce childhood obesity. The jersey will hang in part because of that, but it’s impossible to fully appreciate without seeing it up close and personal. On Monday, after spending two hours conducting one-on-one interviews with Spanish media members, Gasol strode into the purple-and-gold decked gym of the Lafayette Recreation Center, a 2-mile shot from the Lakers’ home court. Here’s a look at some of the notable ones. And then obviously not having him here with us, it’s tough.” But he was the perfect addition at the time for Kobe. “It’s impossible [to separate],” Gasol said, wiping away tears on that night in late January. It’s a day that will certainly be filled with even more emotions than is standard on a day as ceremonious as a jersey retirement. “It’s inevitable. I don’t think he ever would’ve gotten the accolades that he received as a player if he stayed in the small market like he did in Memphis. He would’ve been a great player. [up to his retirement ceremony](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/10/5/22710921/lakers-retire-pau-gasol-jersey-retirement-nba-hall-fame), there have been plenty of stories about Pau, his time in Los Angeles and his career as a whole.

Lakers legend Pau Gasol has his jersey retired by the franchise Tuesday during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena.

Gasol’s last played in an NBA game for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018-19 season. But Pau Gasol will always be remembered mostly for his days playing alongside Kobe Bryant for the Lakers, during which he helped the Purple & Gold win two NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. Plenty of personalities are in attendance to watch the event unfold, including Miami Heat star [Jimmy Butler](/nba/players/96180816/jimmy-butler).

The Los Angeles Lakers have retired Pau Gasol's No. 16 jersey. They hung it in the rafters of their arena alongside the No. 24 worn by Kobe Bryant.

Gasol was only the second Spanish player in NBA history, and he believes his long, successful career contributed to erasing the stereotype of the “soft” European player. It’s been great to see the game grow globally.” “I’m proud to see that,” Gasol said. The team scheduled the ceremony for halftime of the Lakers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Gasol made three of his six career All-Star teams during his time with Los Angeles while averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The Lakers retired Gasol's No.

Two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol joins Lakers' folklore as his No. 16 jersey heads into the rafters at Crypto.com Arena.

[#GraciasPau] [pic.twitter.com/RDIN0M3rzw] [March 8, 2023] [#GraciasPau] [pic.twitter.com/3DbzcxdM3i] [March 8, 2023] [#GraciasPau] [pic.twitter.com/GzMQHfzHz9] [March 8, 2023] [#GraciasPau] [pic.twitter.com/qTl7gXoGLb] [March 8, 2023] Much deserved, Hall-of-Fame coming soon," Butler said. [All other countries](https://nba.sjv.io/c/2436205/1490605/16284?sharedid=NBASection) and U.K.](https://nba.sjv.io/c/2436205/1490605/16284?sharedid=OutsideNBA) "I'm here because of Pau, obviously! [pic.twitter.com/fHeEUuCElv] [March 8, 2023] [pic.twitter.com/eMoJEpE7C0] [March 8, 2023] [13th jersey to be retired](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/lakers-retired-numbers/) by the Lakers, joining his former teammate Kobe Bryant, who had both his No. 3 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Pau Gasol became the 12th player in franchise history to have his number honored and said during a halftime ceremony Tuesday night that "it really exceeds ...

"I guess the common denominator is that I provided something valuable to the team to help the team win," Gasol said. Part of the reason that I'm up there is that I helped the team significantly to win those championships. [James Worthy](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3547/james-worthy) and longtime trainer Gary Vitti. Following a video tribute during the second quarter, Gasol was treated to a lengthy standing ovation by the crowd, patting his chest with one hand while he held his 2-year-old daughter, Elisabet Gianna, in the other. His younger brother Marc, who was part of the trade going the opposite direction from L.A. It was a full-circle type of night for Gasol, who was honored by the Lakers on a night they were playing the team that traded him to L.A.

The two-time NBA champion holds back tears as his No. 16 jersey is lifted into the rafters.

It’s been great to see the game grow globally.” “I’m proud to see that,” Gasol said. Gasol noted that three Europeans now are arguably the top three players in the league: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. “I’m just overwhelmed to see the faces here, all of you,” Gasol said. Gasol choked up while watching the video and standing in that exact spot, wiping tears from his eyes before he spoke to the crowd. The team scheduled the ceremony for halftime of the Lakers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers retired Pau Gasol's No. 16 on Tuesday night. During the ceremony, he paid tribute to longtime teammate and friend Kobe Bryant.

He remained with Los Angeles through the end of the 2013-14 season, and along with Bryant he helped power the Lakers to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. And he was looking forward to this moment." "I can't go on without talking about the person and the face that I don't see.

With his original team (the Memphis Grizzlies) in town, the Lakers retired the No. 16 jersey of team legend Pau Gasol, who played six and a half seasons in Los ...

With his original team (the [Memphis Grizzlies](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MEM/memphis-grizzlies/)) in town, the Lakers retired the No. [Marc Gasol](/nba/players/1231870/marc-gasol/), Pau's brother who was part of the trade that got the elder Gasol to Los Angeles, was also in the building. Considering their status as a 17-time champion, entering that club is one of the great honors an NBA player can receive. Former teammate [Jimmy Butler](/nba/players/1646703/jimmy-butler/), who currently plays for the [Miami Heat](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/) and has a home game tomorrow night, flew to Los Angeles to celebrate Gasol. Sadly, one of Gasol's favorite teammates and the leader of those two Lakers championship teams was missing. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) are in a critical stretch of their schedule as they attempt to reach the postseason, but on Tuesday, one of the most important nights of the season arrived without having anything to do with what is happening on the court.

A choked-up Pau Gasol has his No. 16 Lakers jersey retired to the rafters next to Kobe Bryant's No. 24 during a ceremony Tuesday night.

He withstood Bryant flattening him in the 2008 Olympics, and then mocking him by placing the U.S. The trade was famously vetoed, but Gasol was deeply wounded, and played three more nondescript Lakers seasons before leaving as a free agent. It was Gasol who helped keep Bryant in a Lakers uniform for the rest of his career. Gasol endured Bryant harassing him during the 2008 Finals in which he was bullied by Kevin Garnett. Gasol was a star in Memphis but he wasn’t a champion. He had a reputation for getting pushed around in the paint. “When he retires, he’ll have his number in the rafters,” Bryant said of Gasol on the video. It was Gasol who helped the Lakers once again become the Lakers. Gasol didn’t stonewall, he sponged. He worked with Gasol in a way that he never could work with Shaquille O’Neal. It was a relationship that enhanced a superstar and saved a dynasty. Standing at center court in a suit and two championship rings, Gasol wept.

The Lakers retired Gasol's No. 16 jersey Tuesday night, honoring the genteel big man who spent the best seasons of his 18-year NBA career with Bryant in Los ...

It’s been great to see the game grow globally.” “I’m proud to see that,” Gasol said. “I’m just overwhelmed to see the faces here, all of you,” Gasol said. Gasol noted that three Europeans now are arguably the top three players in the league: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. Gasol choked up while watching the video and standing in that exact spot, wiping tears from his eyes before he spoke to the crowd. The team scheduled the ceremony for halftime of the Lakers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Los Angeles Lakers officially retired the No. 16 jersey of Pau Gasol on Tuesday (Mar. 7) night (Wednesday morning, Mar. 8, in Manila) at halftime of the ...

In all, Lazenby ended by saying that the honor of having his jersey retired only shows how vital the Spaniard was both for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers from 2008 to 2010. However, it was the ability of Gasol to get along with Kobe Bryant that Lazenby believed made a difference. It reflects the role he played in the Lakers’ resurgence to win two more championships and actually to make three trips to the NBA Finals in the back half of Kobe Bryant’s career.

The Lakers will retire Pau Gasol's No. 16 jersey at halftime on Tuesday and Gasol couldn't be more honored.

And I know that that’s going to be the triggering point for me. “And obviously being next to Kobe, seeing his name, still emotional. Having my jersey retired and receiving this honor and being with that group of people and incredible achievers, legends, it’s something I could’ve never imagined.” And then obviously not having him here with us, it’s tough. It’s going to be an awesome night.” — Kobe Bryant in 2018 [said](https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/35793029/pau-gasol-lakers-transformation-playing-kobe-bryant) at a Lakers event in January after Jeanie Buss announced his jersey would be retired in March.

Sadly, one of Gasol's favorite teammates and the leader of those two Lakers championship teams was missing. Laker legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash ...

With his original team (the [Memphis Grizzlies](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MEM/memphis-grizzlies/)) in town, the Lakers retired the No. [Marc Gasol](/nba/players/1231870/marc-gasol/), Pau's brother who was part of the trade that got the elder Gasol to Los Angeles, was also in the building. Considering their status as a 17-time champion, entering that club is one of the great honors an NBA player can receive. Former teammate [Jimmy Butler](/nba/players/1646703/jimmy-butler/), who currently plays for the [Miami Heat](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/) and has a home game tomorrow night, flew to Los Angeles to celebrate Gasol. Sadly, one of Gasol's favorite teammates and the leader of those two Lakers championship teams was missing. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) are in a critical stretch of their schedule as they attempt to reach the postseason, but on Tuesday, one of the most important nights of the season arrived without having anything to do with what is happening on the court.

Anthony Davis has 30 points and 22 rebounds as Lakers defeat Memphis and move to the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference.

No. Mayer needed 6 hours, 42 minutes to beat Souza, which is also longer than the record for a clay-court match on the ATP tour. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova, allowing them to separate from the football schools and create their own conference on July 1. 2010 — The top-ranked Connecticut Huskies set an NCAA women’s record by winning their 71st straight game, a 59-44 victory over No. Ertz, who gave birth to a son in August, is not under contract with Angel City and might never play for the team. “So I’m kind of just trying to create a more efficient swing.” is the Pac-12 player of the year](https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2023-03-07/ucla-jaime-jaquez-jr-is-pac-12-player-of-the-year) [Is the Pac-12 really this bad? The possible season-ending loss of the team’s defensive maestro, Clark, a.k.a. The present? Fittingly, it’ll live directly on the right of Kobe Bryant’s No. And Tuesday, after helping the Lakers win a pair of championships, the curtain dropped on Pau Gasol’s No. Below that an to the left is Shaquille O’Neal’s No.

The Lakers honored the Spanish big man at halftime of Tuesday's win over his first NBA franchise, the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I'm proud to see that," Gasol said. It's been great to see the game grow globally." Gasol noted that three Europeans now are arguably the top three players in the league: While Gasol and Bryant immediately formed a dominant partnership, Memphis got a package that included Gasol's younger brother, Marc, who went on to have 11 largely excellent seasons with the Grizz. "I'm just overwhelmed to see the faces here, all of you," Gasol said. Gasol choked up while watching the video and standing in that exact spot, wiping tears from his eyes before he spoke to the crowd. 8 and late-career No. Gasol made three of his six career All-Star teams during his time with Los Angeles while averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. "I think I've done as good as I could to really embrace it and savor it, but tonight really exceeds any dream or expectation that I've had," Gasol said before the game while wearing one championship ring on each hand. Gasol thanked Vanessa Bryant during his speech: "Love you, sister. Just push yourself every day to be the best that you can be." The Lakers retired Gasol's No.

The number 16 shirt with which the Spanish player won two NBA titles at the Los Angeles Lakers was ceremoniously retired on Tuesday.

In the end, life and sport put you to the test and condition you with adverse moments. He contributed spinal surgeries at children’s hospitals in every city he played for, visited refugees in Iraq and Syria and vowed to donate $1,000 for every point he scored to help typhoon victims in the Philippines. On Monday, he told the children about the first injury that left a mark on his memory. You want to live up to it and you think that maybe, at some point, it would be nice if your name was there, but you don’t let it go to your head,” says Gasol, who was inspired to reach the NBA after watching the US Dream Team that played in Barcelona, his hometown, at the 1992 Olympics. On Monday, Gasol stated that one of his greatest legacies was reversing the notion that European players are technically stylish but are soft on the court compared to Americans. He had come to LA in February 2008 from Memphis, a team that had posted 20 wins for the season. I got to work to win the following season, the 2008-09 season. I’m very proud,” declares the center, who in turn is following in the trailblazing footsteps of others like Drazen Petrovic, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic and, more recently, Dirk Nowitzki, who arrived in American basketball two years before Pau. The jersey retirement took place at halftime during a game between the Lakers and the Grizzlies. The next day, March 7, Gasol joined the gods of the American professional league after he became the 12th Laker to have his jersey retired. Not even as a boy – the son of two doctors, Agustí and Marisa, who used to play on a court near the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona when he was the same age as the kids who now gawp up at him – did he ever dream that he would reach one of the most prominent teams in the NBA, where he played in three NBA finals and won two consecutive championships, in 2009 and 2010. The franchise transferred Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and Aaron McKie (in addition to the rights to his brother, Marc) to the Grizzlies, in order to get Pau, a center who was the first non-American to win the rookie of the year award, in 2002.

Jimmy Butler surprised former Chicago Bulls teammate Pau Gasol at his Los Angeles Lakers jersey retirement ceremony on Tuesday.

A special moment for Pau Gasol at the break of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies. By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected].

8 and No. 16 jersey was the 13th retired by the Lakers](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1464651/pau-gasol-talks-kobe-bryant-nba-rising-stars-hall-of-fame/) but the 12th player honored as Bryant’s No. [The No. After seven seasons, he was traded to the Lakers with his younger brother Marc Gasol included in the compensation. The Lakers retired the No. — Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)