Pau Gasol enters the Hall of Fame

"Toni Kukoc inspired me to follow in his footsteps and Kobe Bryant raised my game like no one else"

MADRID, 13 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The former basketball player Pau Gasol has entered the 'Hall of Fame' this morning, the NBA Hall of Fame, and has become the first Spaniard to achieve it, all in a ceremony in which he highlighted the "enormous honor " which represents the award and in which he remembered the ill-fated Kobe Bryant, with whom he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The one from Sant Boi, who only a few months ago saw his number '16' retire in the Los Angeles Lakers, added a new milestone in his career by joining the most select club in the sport, all in a 'Class of 2023' in which also includes, among others, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade and Becky Hammon.

At Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, he was accompanied by his parents, his wife, his children and his brother Marc Gasol, and the former Croatian player Toni Kukoc was in charge of introducing him. "I saw Toni -Kukoc- when I was young. If they had told me that not only would one day meet Toni Kukoc, but that he would introduce me to the Hall of Fame, I would not have believed it, and yet here we are. Toni He was an incredible player, he inspired so many Europeans when we were growing up. I followed you, you inspired me to follow in your footsteps," he said at the opening of his speech.

The Catalan especially thanked his family, his brothers Marc and Adriá, for their contribution. "Growing up with Marc was special. We played in the yard, shooting hoops and competing. We played for our country, we played a lot of tournaments, we won medals, we were traded for each other, crazy, I think we are the only brothers who were traded one on the other, and we experienced one of the most special things of our careers in that initial jump at the 'All-Star' 2015 at Madison Square Garden. It was very special to share that," he recalled.

He also recalled how in February 2008 Chris Wallace called him to tell him that he had been traded to the Lakers. "That changed my career and my life. I know people were upset in the NBA about it. And that's where I met the person who elevated my game like no other, who taught me what it took to win at the highest level, who He showed how hard you had to work and the mentality you need to be the best, the commitment you have to have, what it takes to be a leader: Kobe," he said.

"I joined the Lakers in Washington D.C., I arrived at the hotel after midnight, he was texting me saying that he wanted to come by my room to welcome me. I asked him if he was sure because it was going to be late, the team had a game the next day but she decided to come. Her message was "welcome to the team, I'm happy you're here, now let's win a championship together, have a good night. I wouldn't be here without you bro. I wish more than anything that Gigi and you were here. I love you and I miss you. Thank you Vanessa for being here today, I am proud to be an uncle to your wonderful daughters, I love you very much, "he continued.

In addition, he gave special thanks to Phil Jackson, a "really amazing man" who taught him "things more important than the game, like mindset, meditation, noise blocking, encouraging us to read and cultivating our minds." "I am very grateful to my teammates in the Lakers. I hope you take this recognition that I receive today as if it were yours. Without you, I would not have achieved it," he said.

"I was 12 years old when the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games took place, that changed my life with the 'Dream Team'. The 'Dream Team' taught us how to play basketball, it made me dream about playing at that level, playing against the best of the best," he said.