The Spaniard humbly compiled a Hall-of-Fame career that included a pair of Lakers titles alongside Kobe Bryant, but his mentorship, charity and friendship are what many cherish most.
LOS ANGELES — On Tuesday night, Pau Gasol will be elevated into basketball immortality.No Laker will again wear the Spaniard’s No. 16But even that sight – his name among 11 Laker greats who all helped author the franchises’ 17 championships – will never compare for Lonnie Walker IV. His strongest memory will forever be Gasol’s hand resting on his shoulder.
“He was one of the few guys who really uplifted me and kept me very positive, understanding that there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Walker said in an interview with Southern California News Group. “There were times where I felt like it might be my only year in the NBA, and he was someone that instilled that confidence and gave me so much love, the type of player he was, and who he has become and who he is – he’s forever in my heart.
“He embraced me with nothing but love and genuine love,” Walker said. “It was something that I didn’t expect out of Pau. His love, the way he cared, the way he took me under his wing, talked to me.” Gasol has been involved in the communities where he plays for decades: The Monday event was organized through his Gasol Foundation , which works with thousands of children in the U.S. and in Europe to combat childhood obesity. He was well-known for visiting patients at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Added Gasol: “So it’s important for the veteran players to provide them with perspective, to provide them with positive encouragement, with experience, and to wrap a hand around them and say, ‘Hey, it’s gonna be OK. It’s an injury, you’re dealing with it. You’re gonna work hard. You’re young. You’re gonna figure this out. And you’re gonna appreciate the times that you’re healthy and you’re out there, and that you’re playing and competing. So it’s just a part of your journey. Embrace it.
“It was hard for them to recognize a finesse big and not a physical big,” said Knight, who now does color commentary for the Grizzlies. “We told him being who he was was gonna be good enough. People would appreciate his greatness as time went on. They definitely got on board.”
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