Pau Gasol was an All-Star before he got to the Lakers. But he says he wouldn't have been a Hall of Famer without Kobe Bryant.
Pau Gasol with a heartfelt message to Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/4C3emzBIp1
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) August 13, 2023
During his Hall of Fame induction speech, Gasol called his Lakers teammate Bryant, "the person who elevated my game like no other, who taught me what it took to win at the highest level, who showed me how hard you had to work and the mentality you had to have to be the best."
Gasol reached two Finals with Bryant, winning titles in 2009 and 2010, while Gasol made three All-Star and All-NBA teams. Earlier this week, he told Rachel Nichols that Bryant would have been his Hall presenter if he were still alive.
Pau Gasol tells me he would have had Kobe present him at the Hall of Fame this weekend if Kobe was still with us: “I’m going to miss him for sure. But I’ll always miss him.” Pau says hopefully Vanessa Bryant will be able to be there in Kobe’s stead. @shobasketball @hoophall pic.twitter.com/XZTX3Df4UE
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) August 11, 2023
Toni Kukoc, one of Gasol's "childhood heroes" presented Gasol instead, along with Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And Kobe's widow, Vanessa Bryant, attended to support Gasol.
It wasn't all emotional. Gasol told a story about being traded to the Lakers in February 2008, and Bryant insisting on meeting him when he arrived at the team hotel after midnight. Bryant's message was simple and concise, according to Gasol.
Pau Gasol says Kobe stopped by his hotel room after he was traded to the Lakers after midnight just to say
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) August 13, 2023
“Welcome to the team”
“Glad you’re here”
“Now, let’s go win a championship together”
And then he just left Gotta love the Mamba mentality!
pic.twitter.com/IEsh04RPm5
"That was it," Gasol said. "No crap. Straight to the chase."
Then he added, "I wouldn't be here without you, brother. I wish more than anything that you and Gigi were here today with us. I miss you and I love you."
Bryant may have passed, but Gasol made sure that he was present in spirit at the Hall on Saturday.
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