David Villafranca
Los Angeles (USA), 24 Feb. Pau Gasol’s 16 is less than two weeks away from reaching eternity with the Lakers, those who miss the Spanish basketball legend to see how the iconic Los Angeles franchise retires his number in a special tribute that will crown an outstanding career inside and out. the fields
“A lot of people tell me that I reap everything I sow and that’s life too,” the two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star said in an interview with EFE.
On March 7, Los Angeles will dress to pay tribute to a Gasol who, on the cusp of becoming the first non-American player with his Lakers jersey retired, shares his emotions at such a tribute, reflects on his legacy and remembers the mark that Kobe Bryant left on him.
Question: How do you live these previous weeks before the big day?
Answer: Well, I don’t know, sort of looking for distraction to be calm. Every day that passes, every hour that passes, we get closer to this special moment, which will be as moving as an avalanche and a huge hurricane of emotions… It’s hard to digest and assimilate everything.
I think the most important thing is going to be to let go, to let myself be carried away by these emotions and by this moment: to take advantage of it and share it with all those who can be there and those who can follow it in parts of the world, especially in Spain. with special affection and special pride.
For me it is a moment of great gratitude and to share it with all those who have accompanied me throughout my career in any position and who have been part of all the moments leading up to this moment. .
Q: “Magic” Johnson with 32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 33, Kobe Bryant with 8 and 24… How does it feel to think you’re going to miss the names and numbers of these legends forever?
A: Part of this recognition and this great honor is this concept of immortalization, which for a human being is so surreal, so utopian. But with this recognition, in a way, my name, my family and my number will be there (forever) with a franchise like the Lakers.
It fills you with humility. There’s no other way for me to digest it or see it. It fills you with emotion, it overwhelms you.
For me, two of the most important numbers, on a circumstantial level and without comparison with others, are the numbers 8 and 24 of Kobe. He will be very present with me at that time even if he cannot be physically.
Q: In an interview with Efe in 2018, Kobe said there was “no debate” on whether his number should be retired and that he was “looking forward” to seeing him in this tribute . How does the memory of Kobe accompany you these days?
A: It’s consistent. For me, it is constant not only at the 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 part of the rest of my days, especially on a personal and family level, which is most important 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 as a big brother. I will always consider him as such even if he cannot be with us physically, but he will be with us in another way.
A SPECIAL CONNECTION
Q: The affection and respect that the Lakers, their fans and you have for each other is striking. Why do you think they connected so well from the start and kept it until now?
A: Well, the truth is, I don’t know… This is something that I’m obviously very grateful for, that I don’t take for granted. It is something very special.
Everyone tells me that I have always behaved with a lot of class, with a lot of respect, with a certain humility, with values, as my parents and my family taught me. I also worked a lot with the LA community, doing off-track things, which I was able to bring to the team…
I don’t know if in the end it’s almost more important than what I was able to do at the sporting level. In the end, it’s the person, not the player. For me, it’s always caring and being true to the person and that’s one of my biggest accomplishments in life: to be recognized more for it.
When you manage something as exceptional as an elite sport, with so much recognition, with so much noise and distractions, and you continue to be you and you continue to treat everyone the same , with respect, with love, with honesty and with authenticity, I think people appreciate and appreciate it.
Q: Already retired, you remain very active with social causes such as those of your foundation and sports of all kinds. But do you miss playing basketball? How is life away from the slopes?
A: I’m fine because I believe that one of the keys to life and happiness is to know how to savor the stages, but also to know when they end to start the next one.
I had the chance to play for a long time, to have a very long career, and when I made the decision to hang up my cleats it was not easy but at the same time I did it with a lot of confidence. and serenity. Once I closed that door, I am now involved in the sport from another position.
Right now, I’ve had wonderful NBA All-Star weekend coaching (in the rookie/sophomore game), receiving recognition for my support of the WNBA (the Kobe & Gigi Bryant award), as well as the recognition of Bob Lanier for my social commitment, for what I have been able to do for so many years off the pitch and what I want to do much more now that I have more time and more maturity.
A lot of people tell me that I reap what I sow and that’s life too. And that’s why I don’t miss going to play, because I enjoyed it a lot and now I’m enjoying other things that are just as or more important than what I did before. EFE
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