<p><a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/vanessa-bryant-lawsuit-settlement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanessa Bryant</a> surprised the Lakers&#8217; arena with never-before-seen footage of Kobe Bryant as his friend and fellow former teammate Pau Gasol&#8217;s Lakers jersey was retired on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Gasol, who won two NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 with The Lakers, became emotional during the ceremony. Additionally, Gasol, who played alongside the late <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/kobe-bryants-daughter-natalia-bryant-seeks-protection-from-stalker-who-wants-a-kobe-like-child-together/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kobe Bryant,</a> will have his retired jersey hang alongside Bryant&#8217;s.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Vanessa Bryant Shares Kobe&#8217;s Surprise Message To Pau Gasol At Jersey Retirement Ceremony</h3>
<p>Introducing Pau for Tuesday&#8217;s ceremony, Vanessa Bryant shared a sweet message to Gasol that played in the Crypto.com arena at the start of the dedication. Following Vanessa Bryant&#8217;s introduction, was an old clip from 2016 of Bryant predicting the jersey retirement of Gasol.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no debating how when he retires, he will have his number in the rafters next to mine. The reality is, I don&#8217;t win those championships without Pau&#8230; And I really look forward to the day when he&#8217;s there giving his speech at center court&#8230;&#8221; Kobe predicted in the rare clip from his own 2016 ceremony.</p></blockquote>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Pau Gasol Gets Emotional As Lakers Retire His #16 Jersey</h3>
<p>Pau Gasol&#8217;s #16 jersey was retired as Los Angeles Lakers owners and players gathered to pay homage to his legacy on the team before the Lakers&#8217; 112-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>Gasol thanked the arena for the acknowledgment of his impact on the team. However, he explained that he wouldn&#8217;t be able to continue without acknowledging his late friend Kobe Bryant.</p>
<p>Additionally, the 7-foot former Laker shared how he would have liked to share this moment with Bryant and his late daughter Gigi.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;But I can&#8217;t go on without talking about the person and the face I don&#8217;t see — the brother that elevated me, inspired me, challenged me to be a better player. Just to be a better man overall.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Gasol became emotional as the attendees began to chant Kobe&#8217;s name.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I miss him so much like many of us do. I love him. I wish he was here with Gigi. I really do&#8230; but I think he&#8217;ll be proud. And he was looking forward to this moment, so I love you brother.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<figure id="attachment_114728" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-114728" style="width: 1140px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-daze_wrapper_width wp-image-114728" src="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GettyImages-1472030304-scaled.jpg?w=1140" alt="" width="1140" height="760" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-114728" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Vanessa Bryant Recently Honored Gasol At The 2023 NBA All-Star Game</h3>
<p>In addition to Gasol&#8217;s jersey retirement on Tuesday, the 42-year-old was also honored at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 19. During the event, the <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">WNBA Commissioner </span><span class="r-18u37iz">Cathy Engelbert </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">and Vanessa Bryant presented Gasol </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">with the 2023 Kobe &; Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award.</span></p>
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<p>Additionally, Gasol took to his official social media accounts to share his reaction to the honor.</p>
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