Unsurprisingly, the shadow of Kobe Bryant hovered over this Hall OF Fame 2023 ceremony. In the room, his widow Vanessa and his agent and friend Rob Pelinka. On the stage, his former teammate and friend Paul Gasol. They won two NBA titles together, in 2009 and 2010, but more than teammates, they were friends. Even brothers.
“That’s why I got to know the person who raised my game like no one else, who taught me what it takes to win at the highest level, who showed me how hard you had to work and what mentality you had to have to be the best, the commitment you had to make, what it meant and what you had to do to be a leader: Kobe”, Gasol said discussing his transfer from Memphis to Los Angeles. “I wouldn’t be here without you, bro. More than anything, I wish you and Gigi were here with us today. I miss you and I love you. Thank you Vanessa for being here tonight. I am proud to be your brother. And an uncle for your wonderful daughters. I love you so much. »
Gasol recounted his first encounter with Kobe. It was in Washington that he joined the Lakers after his transfer. While it was late and the team was at the hotel, Kobe had waited for him and insisted on coming to see him in his room.
“He had made sure that I immediately received the message“, says the Spaniard. “He said to me, ‘Welcome to the team. I’m glad you’re here. Now let’s win a title together’. I said, ‘Okay, I’m in, man. Have a good evening “. That’s all. No unnecessary stuff. To the point. »
| Paul Gasol | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2001-02 | SAME | 82 | 37 | 51.8 | 20.0 | 70.9 | 2.9 | 6.0 | 8.9 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 17.6 |
| 2002-03 | SAME | 82 | 36 | 51.0 | 10.0 | 73.6 | 2.3 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 19.0 |
| 2003-04 | SAME | 78 | 32 | 48.2 | 26.7 | 71.4 | 2.6 | 5.1 | 7.7 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 17.7 |
| 2004-05 | SAME | 56 | 32 | 51.4 | 16.7 | 76.8 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 17.8 |
| 2005-06 | SAME | 80 | 39 | 50.3 | 25.0 | 68.9 | 2.4 | 6.5 | 8.9 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 20.4 |
| 2006-07 | SAME | 59 | 36 | 53.8 | 27.3 | 74.8 | 2.5 | 7.3 | 9.9 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 20.8 |
| 2007-08* | All Teams | 66 | 36 | 53.4 | 25.0 | 80.7 | 2.4 | 6.0 | 8.4 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 18.9 |
| 2007-08* | SAME | 39 | 37 | 50.1 | 26.7 | 81.9 | 2.4 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 18.9 |
| 2007-08* | ALL | 27 | 34 | 58.9 | 0.0 | 78.9 | 2.3 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 18.8 |
| 2008-09 | ALL | 81 | 37 | 56.7 | 50.0 | 78.1 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 9.6 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 18.9 |
| 2009-10 | ALL | 65 | 37 | 53.6 | 0.0 | 79.0 | 3.7 | 7.6 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 18.3 |
| 2010-11 | ALL | 82 | 37 | 52.9 | 33.3 | 82.3 | 3.3 | 6.9 | 10.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 18.8 |
| 2011-12 | ALL | 65 | 37 | 50.1 | 25.9 | 78.2 | 2.8 | 7.6 | 10.4 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 17.4 |
| 2012-13 | ALL | 49 | 34 | 46.6 | 28.6 | 70.2 | 2.3 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 13.7 |
| 2013-14 | ALL | 60 | 31 | 48.0 | 28.6 | 73.6 | 2.1 | 7.6 | 9.7 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 17.4 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 78 | 34 | 49.4 | 46.2 | 80.3 | 2.8 | 9.0 | 11.8 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 18.5 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 72 | 32 | 46.9 | 34.8 | 79.2 | 2.2 | 8.9 | 11.0 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 16.5 |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 64 | 25 | 50.2 | 53.8 | 70.7 | 1.7 | 6.2 | 7.8 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 12.4 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 77 | 24 | 45.8 | 35.8 | 75.6 | 1.7 | 6.4 | 8.0 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 10.1 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 30 | 12 | 44.7 | 46.2 | 70.0 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.9 |
| 2018-19 * | SAN | 27 | 12 | 46.6 | 50.0 | 71.1 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIL | 3 | 10 | 16.7 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| Total | 1226 | 33 | 50.7 | 36.8 | 75.3 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 17.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
