Gasol’s 16th passes into the eternity of the Los Angeles Lakers: from his wife’s support to the eternal memory of Kobe Bryant

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Pau Gasol will enlarge his legend in the next few hours, as the Los Angeles Lakers retire his historic number 16 in an emotional tribute. This recognition will take place during the game that takes place this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. (at three in the morning, Spanish time) against the Memphis Grizzlies, what was his first team in the NBA. What makes it even more special if possible.

Read also – Pau Gasol and Cat McDonnell present their second child: “We already have it here!”

Everything is prepared so that one of the best Spanish athletes in history receives the great tribute he deserves and gives himself a whole mass bath. His shirt will be hung at the top of the Crypto.com Arena along with that of other legends such as the missing Kobe Bryant (numbers 8 and 24), a brother to him. The number 34 of Shaquille O’Nealwhom he ‘replaced’ upon his arrival at the Lakers, also shines in eternity.

His dorsal will also look like that of the rest of the Los Angeles team’s historical figures: George Mikan (dorsal 99), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin Baylor (22), Gail Goodrich (25), Magic Johnson (32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33), James Worthy (42) y Jamaal Wilkes (52).

The Catalan, who won two rings with them (in 2009 and 2010) and played in three consecutive NBA finals, thus becomes the first Spanish player to have his jersey removed in the NBA. He also happens to be the seventh European player to achieve it along with other great basketball stars such as the Serbian Drazen Petrovicthe French Tony Parker or the german Dirk Nowitzki. Quite a historic feat that further enlarges his figure and the Spain brand.

Gasol landed with the Lakers in the 2007-2008 season and left them in 2013-2014. His mark, so many years later, is still indelible. The center, after going through other NBA teams, finally announced his retirement in October 2021 after playing the last season of his sports career at Barça, the other great team in his life. On the occasion of his recognition in the Lakers, Gasol has also been honored in recent days in his hometown, Sant Boi de Llobregat.

On this special day, Gasol will be supported by his wife, Catherine McDonnell, “My love”, Catherine has written on her networks in the last hours along with a publication of the two. They make a nice family Elizabeth Giannawho was born in 2010, and the little Max, which barely exceeds three months. Pau will also have the support of great friends such as the former basketball player Juan Carlos Navarro or the singer David Muñoz, from Estopa. In fact, this Sunday he enjoyed the artist of the game between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

At the same time, his great friend Kobe will occupy a very special place in his heart and in his memory. The two were like brothers and the families of both athletes remain united after the tragic helicopter accident in 2020 that ended the life of the sports legend at the age of 41 and that of one of his daughters, Giannawho died at just 13.