Pau Gasol on life after the NBA: Losing Kobe, winning gold

Pau Gasol retired from professional sports in 2021. In an emotional speech, barely holding back tears, he remembered his friend, Kobe Bryant.

I really wanted to make an special mention to Kobe Bryant. I really would have liked for him to be here. Sometimes life can be very unfair, and we miss him and his daughter 'Gigi' a great deal. He taught me how to be a better leader, a better competitor. He showed me what it meant to be a winner. I have always considered him my older brother, so thank you, Kobe, Gasol said.

During his career, Gasol achieved great success. He has gold and silver World Championship medals, three European Championship titles, and has won the NBA championship twice with the Los Angeles Lakers.

At the beginning of 2021, the former center resumed his career after a foot injury and helped FC Barcelona win the Spanish Championship.

Gasol played in the NBA from 2001 to 2019, averaging 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.

It's worth noting that the Los Angeles Lakers retired the number 16, which Gasol wore from 2008 to 2014. The jersey was hung under the arena's dome right next to Kobe Bryant's, Gasol's great friend.

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. 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. 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, Gasol said during the ceremony.