Hall of Fame Inductee Pau Gasol Honor Kobe Bryant in His Speech

By: Fatima Roshni Image credit: Sport Star

[{"selector":"#anim-e73ed869-9733-4625-b04e-d1f4bcef83b9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-70.5624998213744%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09da6256-1a3a-4aef-a201-adcd3fe2d70e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4b4b4ca-c1c7-4742-8a54-81807245273d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -419.39269%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25123222-9a58-49ca-8e63-7076e63d64fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c47a523-f1ae-48eb-8063-535f4e7e7bed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 75.22712%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The 2023 class of legends, including Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Becky Hammon and others, inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday was quite an emotional one.

[{"selector":"#anim-934cd55f-300a-4715-9368-3f58d3e409cb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-9df8b58b-0bf2-4ef6-8a3f-91421dce5e35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3303831-4a5d-4fea-a128-b3c0e3e9f858","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfdd75c1-6c50-4529-bc45-3f0bac382d06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.626377635736254%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The event was filled with some emotional moments, with inductees paying tribute to their loved ones, from Wade inviting his dad on stage during his speech to Dirk thanking his family and coach.

[{"selector":"#anim-9422d187-1726-4d37-afa4-5b58974abc55 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-67.70972516692966%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7882376f-43cf-40b1-b40b-e59ba6a04d27","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab920b92-912c-4535-a84c-a570d7cd435b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.86755%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9001778-086e-4e40-9aaf-57b766c10082","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc72a4cf-d3d4-4b82-aaf6-e79b4cb2c123","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Among the legendary players, Pau Gasol's tribute to his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate and best friend, the late Kobe Bryant, was, however, one of the most emotional moments from the event.

[{"selector":"#anim-81ade141-523c-44cb-8e7e-0284721d0775","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01051ad1-7b77-4c72-8101-af760fce55da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 63.23179%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd71b503-b1cc-4696-8ffd-5a19fb081afe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4c16665-0fb8-4d79-b872-47315d11b0a2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.744772592968662%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Recalling the special moments Gasol's speech started with their first meeting after he was traded to the Lakers from the Memphis Grizzlies, with Kobe inviting him to his hotel room for a talk.

[{"selector":"#anim-0186412a-5d3d-4564-9450-69a94ad678b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33332094-f6d0-475e-b769-71f5fcd348f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea1bb9bb-52de-46b4-8fc4-8f638f6eabbb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.78034%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4df33cc-fbf3-4b4d-9304-bedd85eeb556 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(65.2147858185063%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] "He said, 'Welcome to the team. I'm happy you're here now let's go win a championship together.' I said, 'Alright I'm in, man I'm in. Have a good night.' That was it. No crap. Straight to the chase."

[{"selector":"#anim-2cd8ce8c-505c-4719-ab19-774c97c474e7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.6850009071258%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e911b68c-3d4b-44ab-b780-b90ea880bb29","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6df0a8a5-85af-4d21-9b95-478e2e637f53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.97817%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a76431be-fbba-4c80-ad4f-0aa6279d91be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-313ea773-807c-42e3-882f-e69b480423ab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.11253%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Adding further to the speech, he then stated, "I wouldn't be here without you, brother. I wish you more than anything that you and Gigi were here today with us. I miss you and love you."

[{"selector":"#anim-c3b55cb5-e32c-4132-974f-562e8098e936 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-62.65917374276193%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0bb979e6-0e1a-46b8-85b9-e0383453a54c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e14e5f42-efac-4f5d-a74f-a05e22c1ac04","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56ddc4b3-50f1-4e84-8e6e-9c4ae5bd2948","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dfb3911-fc6f-4a3e-b213-7639521d3346","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Pau and Kobe's on-court relationship with the Lakers carries several achievements under it, including three consecutive finals appearances and two consecutive championship wins in 2009 and 2010.

[{"selector":"#anim-26e49f6d-c598-4603-b8b1-43441aa2e591","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-284ad5ba-a0f8-4ca4-93bb-8bc5ff3f4d58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 68.33931%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b6d99a9-417d-4625-96c8-3667a810ea49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc26c9d9-fcac-4649-bcab-831af76d9972 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(57.566807947623744%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Their off-court relations were quite special, with their family bonding strengthening after Kobe's death in 2020. Pau has played a major role as a brother to Vanessa and a loving uncle to the kids.

Hall of Fame Inductee Pau Gasol Honor Kobe Bryant in His Speech

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