Kobe Bryant correctly predicted teammate Pau Gasol would have his jersey hanging next to his own

The late Kobe Bryant predicted that his Lakers teammate Pau Gasol’s jersey would be hanging next to his.

The Lakers retired Gasol’s No. 16 jersey Tuesday night, in honor of the genteel big man who spent the best seasons of his 18-year NBA career with Bryant in Los Angeles. The Lakers reached three straight NBA Finals after Gasol’s arrival in February 2008, winning championships in 2009 and 2010.

Gasol and Bryant did it all together, and now, as The Black Mamba, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020, predicted, their numbers now hang side by side in the Lakers arena.

In 2018, Bryant was asked during the Oscars about his thoughts on Gasol retiring his jersey number, and without hesitation, he stated that his teammate deserved to have it hang in the rafters alongside his.

There is no debate. Pau, when he retires, you’ll have his number on the rafters next to mine,’ Bryant said.

The Lakers retired Gasol’s No. 16 jersey Tuesday night, honoring him during their game.

‘The reality is that I won’t win those championships without Pau. The city of LA does not have those two championships without Pau. So we know that. They all know that.

“I’ll look forward to the day he’s there giving me his speech at center court in front of all the fans who have supported him over the years.” It’s going to be an amazing night.

Gasol will be honored by the Lakers during halftime of their home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night and while anticipating the event, Gasol was emotional to remember Bryant.

“I’m just trying to take it in little by little and digest and understand that my number, my jersey will be up there with these great players and incredible names in the history of our game.” And obviously being next to Kobe, seeing his name, still emotional,” Gasol said.

Gasol’s versatile game perfectly complemented Bryant’s scoring prowess when Gasol decided to be a support player for a superstar, and the two also formed a deep friendship off the court that lasted until Bryant’s death in 2020.

The 17-time NBA champion franchise usually only retires the number of players in the Hall of Fame, and Gasol is a first-time finalist for the honor this year with a strong chance of making the cut. Gasol made three of his six career All-Star teams during his time with Los Angeles and averaged 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

“It’s a great, great honor,” Gasol said of the upcoming retirement ceremony. ‘Just something he had never imagined.

The Spaniard was moved to remember Bryant while anticipating the ceremony on Tuesday.

And it’s not just an honor for me, it’s an honor for my family, my parents and I think for a lot of people. I think it’s a reflection of the great run we’ve had and that I was able to do my part. So it’s also an honor, I think, to the rest of my teammates and my coaches and the staff that we had over those years.

“Don’t get me wrong, right when I joined the team, I think what I felt from the beginning, and what Kobe let me know from the first day I joined the team in Washington [was]”We’re going to win a championship.”

“We’re not here just to make the playoffs like most teams do or to win a few games. Wearing a Lakers jersey, you join our team to win a championship, to make a difference. And that was the mentality from the second [I got there] and Kobe made sure he knew it.

“We just complement each other well,” Gasol said of Bryant. “He brought a unique edge, work ethic, dedication to the game. I think he appreciated my IQ, my understanding of the game and my ability to catch the ball, have good hands and be able to make plays for myself and my teammates. I think I balanced what he brought to the table.