By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pau Gasol has been a part of the Lakers and teammates with Kobe Bryant for six seasons (2008-2014) during which they won two NBA championships (2009, 2010) and developed a close bond of friendship.
The tragic news of Kobe’s helicopter crash hit Pau while driving home and, as his wife noted to him, the big man’s face ‘went completely white’ at that moment. “I get home and just… started crying. It was hard to find words, I couldn’t talk to anyone for days. The only person I talked to was Robert (Pelinka). He was the first I had the strength to talk to, just to know what was going on, what happened and who else was there, how was Vanessa (Bryant), how were the kids. Basically, I didn’t leave the house,” Gasol said for LA Times.
As soon as Gasol finished some scheduled testing of his injured foot, the next thing he did was travel to Los Angeles in order to be closer if there’s anything he is able to do to help the Bryant family.
Take a look at what Pau Gasol had to say about his experience with Kobe Bryant on and off the court, how he inspired and ‘pushed’ his teammates to be the best they can be: