Paul Gasol: “I enjoy things that are as important or more important than playing basketball”

Pau Gasol’s 16 is less than two weeks away from eternity with the Lakers, missing the Spanish basketball legend from seeing the iconic Los Angeles franchise retire his number in a special tribute that will crown an exceptional career on and off the court

“A lot of people tell me that I reap what I sow and that’s life,” says the two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star.

On March 7, Los Angeles will suit up to honor Gasol, who will soon become the first non-American player to have his jersey retired by the Lakers, share his emotions about the honor, reflect on his legacy and remember the mark Kobe Bryant left on him. .

-How are you living these previous weeks before the big day?

– Well, I don’t know, in a way I’m looking for a distraction to calm down. With every day that passes, with every hour that passes, we are getting closer to that special moment, which will be as emotional as an avalanche and a huge hurricane of emotions… It is difficult to digest and process everything. I think the most important thing will be to surrender, to let myself be carried away by those emotions and that moment: to enjoy it and share it with everyone who will be able to be there and those who will be able to follow him in some part of the world, especially in Spain with a special affection and special pride. For me, it is a moment of great gratitude and to share it with everyone who followed me throughout my career in any position and who were part of all the moments that led to this moment.

-Magic Johnson at 32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 33, Kobe Bryant at 8 and 24… How do you feel when you think that you will forever be with the names and numbers of these legends?

-One of the parts of this recognition and this great honor is this concept of immortality, which is as surreal as it is utopian for man. But with this recognition, in a certain way, my name, my family and my number will be there (forever) with a franchise like the Lakers. This fills you with humility. There is no other way for me to digest or see it. It fills you with emotions, it overwhelms you. For me, the two most important numbers, on a circumstantial level and without comparison to others, are Kobe’s number 8 and 24. He will be very present with me in that moment even though he physically cannot be.

– In a 2018 interview, Kobe said there was “no discussion” about whether his number should be retired and that he was “looking forward” to seeing it honored. How is the memory of Kobe following you these days?

– It’s constant. For me, it is a constant not only at this moment, but also on a daily basis. His presence, his spirit and his legacy are always with me and I always have him. He will be a part of the rest of my days, especially on a personal and family level, which is the most important thing to me. I have a lot to thank him for and I feel very lucky to have shared many things with him and to have considered him a big brother. I will always consider it that way even if he cannot be with us physically, but he will be with us in another way.

– The affection and respect that the Lakers, their fans and you have for each other is astounding. Why do you think they connected so well from the beginning and kept it up until now?

– Well, the truth is that I don’t know… That’s something that I’m obviously very grateful for, that I don’t take for granted. That is something very special. Everyone tells me that I always behaved with a lot of style, with a lot of respect, with a certain humility, with values, as my parents and my family taught me. I also did a lot of work with the Los Angeles community, doing things off the track, what I could contribute to the team… I don’t know if that ended up being almost more important than what I could do on a sports level. In the end it’s a person, not a player. For me, it’s always care and loyalty to a person, and that’s one of my biggest achievements in life: to be recognized more for that. When you manage something as exceptional as an elite sport, with so much recognition, with so much noise and distraction, and you continue to be you and continue to treat everyone the same way, with respect, with love, with honesty and authenticity, I think people appreciate it and prices.

– He is already retired, he is still very active in social activities such as those of his foundation and sports of all kinds. But do you miss playing basketball? What is life like away from the slopes?

– I am doing well because I believe that one of the keys to life and happiness is to know how to enjoy the phases, but also to know when they have ended in order for the next one to begin. I was lucky enough to play for a long time, to have a very long career, and when I made the decision to hang up my football boots it was not easy, but at the same time I did it with great confidence and calmness. After closing that door, I am now involved in the sport from a different position. Just now, I had a wonderful NBA All-Star weekend coaching (in the rookie/sophomore game), receiving recognition for my support of the WNBA (Kobe & Gigi Bryant Award), also the Bob Lanier recognition for my community commitment, for being able to do so much years off the field and what I want to do much more now that I have more time and more maturity. Many people tell me that I reap what I sow, and that is also what life is all about. And that’s why I don’t miss going to play, because I enjoyed it a lot, and now I enjoy other things that are equally or more important than what I did before.