Pau Gasol pays tribute to Kobe Bryant at Basketball Hall of Fame

Pau Gasol speaks at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

By Los Angeles Times staff and wire reports

Published Aug. 12, 2023 Updated Aug. 13, 2023 7:28 AM PT

Former Lakers champion Pau Gasol, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with a star-studded class that included two other international players, was effusive with praise for his family, former teammates and Europeans who paved the way before him during his acceptance speech Saturday night.

The 7-foot Spaniard became emotional when he gave thanks to his family and, especially, former teammate Kobe Bryant, with whom he won NBA titles in 2009 and 2010.

With Vanessa Bryant and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, a close friend and former agent for Kobe, present for the ceremony in Springfield, Mass., Gasol was direct with his praise of Bryant, who died along with daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash in 2020: “I wouldn’t be here without you, brother,” Gasol said. “I wish more than anything that you and Gigi were here today with us. I miss you and love you.”

Gasol joined the Lakers in 2008 after a trade from the Grizzlies that included L.A. sending his brother, Marc, to Memphis. Gasol, the 2002 rookie of the year, was a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player. He averaged 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game during his 18-year career.

He told the story of the 1 a.m. meeting with Bryant after arriving in L.A. following the trade. Gasol told Bryant they could meet in the morning, but his new Lakers teammate insisted on talking face to face sooner than later.

“He wanted to make sure, that right away, first-hand that I got the message,” Gasol said. “He said, welcome to the team, I’m happy you’re here, now let’s go win a championship together. I said, ‘All right, man, I’m in, I’m in.’”

Gasol talked about his family, including the time he played against brother Marc and they jumped at center court to tip off an NBA game.

“So many people have contributed to me being here, but no one like my family,” he said. “My dear parents, who introduced me to the game of basketball; they both played at an amateur level, but they played. Thank you so much for all your teachings, for your support, for your love. … You’ve inspired me. Your commitment, your effort, your sacrifices have fueled me and motivated me.”

Gasol, Nowitzki and Parker brought a European flair to the enshrinement. Fans waved a German flag and chanted Nowitzki’s name when the former Dallas Mavericks star walked the red carpet into Symphony Hall.

Parker’s fans whooped it up when he took the stage to lead off the proceedings. “There are a lot of French people in town. Sorry,” the former San Antonio Spurs point guard said.

Spain was well-represented, too, with Gasol shouting out his national team — “mi familia” — before joining what may be the greatest international class of inductees in the Springfield shrine’s history.

Nowitzki was the first European-born player to win the NBA MVP award in 2007. Parker was the first European to win the finals MVP. Gasol was the NBA’s first international rookie of the year and a key player during title runs for the Lakers.

Gasol acknowledged the Europeans who came to the U.S. before him, saying, “I want to give a special mention to those first Europeans, who came here, across the ocean, who took a chance.”

He also credited Americans for inspiring him. He fell in love with the sport when the 1992 Olympics were held in his hometown, Barcelona. The United States dominated and won the gold.

“I was 12,” Gasol said. “It changed my life. The Dream Team showed us how basketball could be played.”

The Spurs were well represented, led by longtime coach and five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich, and Parker, the point guard on four of those title-winning teams. Becky Hammon, who after a career in the WNBA joined the Spurs as the first woman to serve as a full-time NBA assistant coach, was also honored. Gasol played his last two healthy seasons with the Spurs.

“Coach Pop — it starts with him,” Parker said. “Coach Pop, you’re unbelievable.”

Others enshrined include Dwyane Wade — a key piece of three NBA championship teams in Miami — and former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano, who led the Wolfpack to the 1983 NCAA title and went on to be a broadcaster and advocate for cancer research. Valvano was inducted posthumously.

Rounding out the class were the silver medal-winning 1976 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team; former Purdue coach Gene Keady, a seven-time Big Ten coach of the year; former Texas A&M women’s coach Gary Blair, who took two teams to the Final Four; longtime coach at Amherst and two-time Division III national champion David Hixon; and Gene Bess — who won 1,300 games as a junior college coach at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The inductees received their Hall of Fame rings and jackets on Friday at a news conference, which Hammon missed because the Aces had a game in Las Vegas that night.

Undrafted by the WNBA, Hammon went on to be a six-time All-Star before joining Popovich in San Antonio. She coached the Aces to a WNBA championship last season.

Vanessa Bryant and Rob Pelinka sit in an audience.

Like Gasol, Parker was won over by the 1992 Summer Olympics, when the Hall of Famer-laden Americans drubbed the French national team by 50 points. But when it came time to play in the European championships, Gasol and Spain were often in the way.

“Sometimes I wish Pau Gasol was not born,” Parker quipped.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.