The Los Angeles Lakers retired Pau Gasol’s No. 16 jersey on March 7, 2023, honoring the Spanish center during halftime of their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena.
Gasol, acquired from Memphis in a February 2007 trade, was a key figure in the Lakers’ championships in 2009 and 2010 and helped propel the team to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances. Surrounded by family, former teammates and coaches, the 42-year-old watched as tribute videos played before he stepped to center court to address the crowd.
Visibly emotional, Gasol thanked the late Kobe Bryant, former head coach Phil Jackson, his teammates, staff members and his relatives for their roles in his Lakers journey. The banner now hangs beside Bryant’s retired numbers, a placement Gasol called “especially meaningful.”
The franchise scheduled the ceremony against the Grizzlies to acknowledge Gasol’s impact on both organizations. He was a two-time All-Star in Memphis before joining Los Angeles, where he earned three more All-Star selections.
In the days leading up to the event, Gasol acknowledged he was still grasping the magnitude of the recognition. “It’s a lot to take in,” he said. “I never imagined having my jersey retired. It’s an honor for me, my parents, my teammates and everyone who shared those years with us.”
Gasol becomes the 12th Laker to have his number retired and the first since Bryant’s ceremony in 2017.
Source: LakersNation.com
