When the NBA was a thing from beyond, Los Angeles Lakers they were, and still are now, his most recognizable brand. Only twelve players can boast of the highest distinction of the franchise, of one of the greatest honors in American sports: the retirement of their jersey.. George Mikan (dorsal 99), Elgin Baylor (22), Jerry West (44), Gail Goodrich (25) o Wilt Chamberlain (13) They sound like myths from another time. They all had their shirts hanging in the Inglewood Forum. The eighties brought us closer to Jamaal Wilkes (52), James Worthy (42), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) y Magic Johnson (32). The showtime names were beginning to look familiar, although their level was still from another planet and on the roof of the pavilion are their shirts. Shaquille O’Neal (34) y Kobe Bryant (8 y 24) They already belong to the 21st century, but they sound just as great. Now, there, with all of them, at the top of the Crypto.com Arena is the number 16 by Pau Gasol. Our Pau, his Pau, everyone’s is one more in the Olympus of the Lakers.
The withdrawal of the shirt is the graduation party of a myth. The celebration values both what has been achieved on the track and the legacy off it. And on the 16th of Pau he is already with the greatest for both reasons. For what he won as a “laker” and for what he meant to the franchise beyond the field. Six and a half seasons were enough for him to become a myth of the most glamorous franchise in the American League. The first three courses were outrageous at the sporting level: three finals and two rings (2009 and 2010) for a team that without him had not reached the first round of the playoffs in the previous four seasons. The extraordinary, excellence turned into normality. “It changed the fate of the franchise,” acknowledges Jeannie Bussthe owner of the Lakers.
Con more than 500 games in the Californian franchise, Pau already left his mark on the first. It was in February 2008 against the Nets. Hours after Kobe received him at dawn in a hotel room in Washington. The one who would become his “older brother” was injured and Pau had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in New Jersey. The Lakers won.
Fifteen years later, Pau has not been able to hide these days the nerves that the event that came at halftime of the game between the Lakers and their Memphis Grizzlies had caused him for weeks. He appeared with his daughter, Elisabet Gianna, in his arms and with a champion ring in each hand. In the first timeout of the second quarter, the emotion was already on the surface and he had to stand up to respond to the first ovation. But the best was yet to come. Pau appeared in the center of the court at the break. He did it with the whole family, his parents and siblings. After the introduction of Vanessa Bryant and a video of Kobe, Pau took the floor: “It’s an incredible feeling and a huge honor. It’s tremendous to be able to see everyone here. Thank you for making me feel so special. It’s a great honor to have remove the shirt.” Pau remembered everyone. To Kobe, his family, his former teammates, the public, the Hispanic community… At his side were former teammates like Vujacic, Fisher, or Artest, friends like Navarro, Reyes, Calderón, Juancho Hernangómez or Raül López. .. all as excited as him. “It is that this is another dimension”, affirmed Raül López trying to reflect the importance of the moment. This dimension is the prize for Pau’s attitude towards life.
Added to his sporting successes in LA is his own legacy of what Phil Jackson (another of those who received one of the applause of the night) defined as a “Renaissance character”.. Philanthropic activities, dedication to the community, support for children, the creation of the Gasol Foundation to improve eating habits, the promotion of physical activity and against childhood obesity, its support for women’s basketball, identification with the community Hispanic in Los Angeles… Kobe said it years ago, he was very clear: “When Gasol retires, he will have his number removed next to mine. I would not have won those two rings without the help of Pau. The city of Los Angeles will not I would have those two rings without Pau”. The 16 of the Lakers is already next to his own, next to the 24 of Kobe Bryant, at the height of the legends.