Pau Gasol Gets Emotional as Lakers Retire His No. 16 Jersey

Former Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol (16) speaks to the media during a press conference before his jersey retirement ceremony taking place at halftime in the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on March 7, 2023. Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES—When Pau Gasol joined the Los Angeles Lakers just over 15 years ago, the Spanish 7-footer banished his ego, redoubled his work ethic and immediately turned this team into contenders who eventually became champions.

Gasol and Kobe Bryant did it all together, and their numbers now hang side by side in the Lakers’ arena.