By David Villafranca |
Los Angeles (USA) (EFE) number in a special tribute that will crown an exceptional career on and off the courts.
“Many people tell me that I am reaping everything I have sown and that is also what life is about,” the double NBA champion and six-time All-Star said in an interview with EFE.
On March 7, Los Angeles will dress up to pay tribute to a Gasol who, about to become the first non-American player with his jersey retired in the Lakers, shares his emotions at such a tribute, reflects on his legacy and remembers the mark that Kobe Bryant left on him.
Question: How are you living these previous weeks before the big day?
Answer: Well, I don’t know, in a certain way looking for distraction to be calm. Every day that goes by, every hour that goes by, we are closer to that very special moment, which is going to be as emotional as an avalanche and a huge hurricane of emotions… It is difficult to digest and process everything.
I think the most important thing is going to be letting go, letting myself be carried away by those emotions and by that moment: enjoying it and sharing it with everyone who will be able to be there and those who will be able to follow it in some part of the world, especially in Spain with special affection and special pride.
For me it is a moment of great gratitude and to share it with everyone who has accompanied me throughout my career in any position and who has been part of all the moments that have led to this moment.
next to the stars
Q: “Magic” Johnson with 32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 33, Kobe Bryant with 8 and 24… What do you feel when you think that you will be next to the names and numbers of these legends forever?
A: One of the parts of this recognition and this great honor is this concept of immortalization, which for a human being is like surreal, so utopian. But with this recognition, in a certain way, my name, my family and my number will be there (forever) with a franchise like the Lakers.
This fills you with humility. There is no other way for me to digest it or see it. It fills you with emotion, it overwhelms you.
For me, two of the most important numbers, on a circumstantial level and without comparing it with others, are Kobe’s number 8 and 24. He will be very present with me at that moment despite not being able to be physically.
Q: In an interview with Efe in 2018, Kobe said that there was “no debate” about whether his number should be retired and that he was “looking forward” to seeing him in that tribute. How is the memory of Kobe accompanying you these days?
A: It is constant. For me it is constant not only at this moment, but also on a daily basis. His presence, his spirit and his legacy are always with me and I always have him present. He will be part of the rest of my days, especially on a personal and family level, which is the most important thing for me.
I have a lot to thank him for and I feel very fortunate to have shared many things with him and to have considered him as a big brother. I will always consider it that way even if he cannot be with us physically, but he will be with us in another way.
a special connection
Q: The affection and respect that the Lakers, their fans and you have for each other is striking. Why do you think they connected so well from the beginning and have kept it up to now?
A: Well, the truth is that I don’t know… It’s something that I’m obviously very grateful for, that I don’t take for granted. It is something very special.
Everyone tells me that I always behaved with a lot of class, with a lot of respect, with a certain humility, with values, as my parents and family have taught me. I also worked a lot with the Los Angeles community, doing things off the track, what I was able to contribute to the team…
I don’t know if in the end it is almost more important than what I have been able to do at a sporting level. In the end it is the person, not the player. For me, it is always caring and being faithful to the person and that is one of my greatest achievements in life: being recognized more for it.
When you manage something as exceptional as an elite sport, with so much recognition, with so much noise and distractions, and you continue to be you and you continue to treat everyone in the same way, with respect, with love, with honesty and with authenticity, I think that people appreciate and value it.
Life outside Gasol’s courts
Q: Already retired, you remain very active with social causes such as those of your foundation and sports of all kinds. But do you miss playing basketball? How is life away from the slopes?
A: I’m doing well because I believe that one of the keys to life and to being happy is knowing how to savor stages, but also knowing when they have come to an end in order to start the next one.
I have been lucky enough to play for a long time, to have a very long career, and when I made the decision to hang up my boots it was not easy but at the same time I did it with considerable confidence and serenity. Once I closed that door, I am now involved in the sport from another position.
Right now, I’ve had a wonderful NBA All-Star weekend coaching (in the rookie/sophomore game), receiving recognition for my support of the WNBA (the Kobe & Gigi Bryant award) , also Bob Lanier recognition for my social commitment, for what I have been able to do for so many years off the field and what I want to do much more now that I have more time and more maturity.
Many people tell me that I am reaping everything I have sown and that is what life is about too. And that’s why I don’t miss going to play, because I’ve enjoyed it a lot and now I’m enjoying other things that are equally or more important than what I’ve done before.
