Pau Gasol: ‘Hopefully, Kobe will be watching’

Gasol scored 10 points in 11 minutes in the semifinal against Olimpia Milan

Barcelona legend Pau Gasol took time out between the playoffs and the Final Four to pay tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, his friend and former teammate, by attending the latter’s posthumous induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Gasol was asked in a couple of questions at Saturday’s championship game press conference about what he learned from Bryant in do-or-die situations such as the one he will face on Sunday when Barca plays Anadolu Efes Istanbul for the EuroLeague title.

“We played three Finals together but Kobe really didn’t say a whole lot,” Gasol said. “He just brought the mindset and the aggressiveness and the leadership on the court.”

Gasol and Bryant played one do-or-die Game 7 in the NBA finals to win their second title together in 2010. One thing Gasol said he learned from Bryant was to always be himself on the court.

“I’m just trying to enjoy this and do my best,” he said. “Kobe played as hard as he could. He was always himself until the very last game, as we all saw. I’m just going to try to be me and try to complement what my coach and teammates need. That’s all I’m trying to do here. This is a special opportunity. He was one of the greatest players ever. Hopefully, he’ll be watching.”

Fonte: Euroleague.

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