By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Lakers announced that Pau Gasol’s jersey will be retired in a ceremony that will be held on the 7th of March 2023.
Gasol’s jersey will be the 11th that the Lakers retire after Kobe Bryant’s #8 and #24, Wilt Chamberlain’s #13, Elgin Baylor’s #22, Magic Johnsons, #32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s #33, Shaquille O’ Neal’s #34, Jerry West’s #44, Gail Goodrich’s #25 and Jamaal Wilkes’ #52.
The Spanish great will also be joining Drazen Petrovic (New Jersey Nets, now Brooklyn Nets), Peja Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings), Vlade Divac (Sacramento Kings), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs), and Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) and become the seventh European player to have his jersey retired.
The Lakers acquired Gasol in 2008 via a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. He had a big contribution to the team winning the back-to-back championship titles of 2009 and 2010 and wore the Purple and Gold until 2014.
His personal connection with Kobe Bryant and his close relationship with his family proves not only his quality as a man but also his legacy as a Laker.