Pau Gasol Discussion: #16 Going Up In The Rafters

I always thought of him as an All Star and true pro, but I never considered him worthy of "THE WALL" or jersey retirement. I'm clearly in the minority on this, so I'll leave it at that. I expected more. More black swan. Shouldn't have to ask for black swan if you are Retired Number worthy. Shouldn't have your coach poke your chest and tell you to check if you have balls or not.

All that being said, excellent person, and the fact that he has stayed involved with Kobe's family is huge. Kobe thought he was Wall Worthy, so he's wall worthy.

 

He is a HoFer. 1st ballot one. He is an amazing human being and true Laker till this day. He is responsible for at least 30% of the two titles.

The sheer fact that each one of us remembers where he/she were when the news of the trade hit, and we went to the Finals immediately and for the next 3 years .... all you need to know.

Impact. This is what gets you on the wall.

Side note: I was told by my wife upon getting home that there was some trade...

 

Was driving in my car and remember exactly what street and where on it I was. First game he played it was clear he and Kobe would be great together.

 

I don't remember where I was at all.

 

Drugs?

 

just not that significant enough for me I guess



I mean I was happy, but not remember where I was the rest of my life happy

 

booo

 

Yeah too caught up in what happened in year 4 and on, and the white swan stuff. Those first 3 years and the two rings and the totality of his international career plus the person he is make me, personally, not care in the least about that latter stuff with regards to the jersey going up.

 

I thought all of that stuff mattered if hanging in the rafters meant you were the best of the best for your whole career



by bad

 

He's a main reason for two Lakers rings. If somehow LBJ gets a 2nd one here he'll probably go up too. I would like that a lot less and his career and numbers of course untouchable for the most part in the stats area and number of rings even if less than some others' number of rings.

Not best of the best, but ONE of the best for his career during his time at his position. IMO. Probably first ballot HOF?

 

right. like Shaq. say 2005-ish

 

best soft player ever?





Might be my last chance to use these haha

 

I was driving around in Utah for this trade AND the CP3 trade (thanks Stern), in the same car.

Pau was on the 15 Freeway up there. CP3 was around my college town.

I remember that. It was awesome.

 

The Gasol trade happened the day before I turned 21. Needless to say it was a pretty fun night.

 

I woke up for a game against Indy, I think, and heard the announcers confirming the trade, I was looking at the bench for Bynum and whoever was missing.

 

I was in my therapist’s office at the time. I got a text from my friend that said “we got Gasol!” And of course i was flabbergast since we had no inkling the trade was coming, so I apologized to my therapist and told him I had to make a call to find out what the details of the trade were. When I found out we kept Odom and Bynum I was in disbelief. I spent the rest of my therapy session talking about how great this was gonna be.

 

Time capsule stuff right here from the ClubLakers days:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080208...-and-will-play-center-for-now-p69-t88743.html

 

@Savory Griddles was at work when he found out

 

@JSM @karacha sighting in there too:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080208...play-center-for-now-p69-t88743,start,150.html

@ZenMaster @CarolinaLakerFan also:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080208...play-center-for-now-p69-t88743,start,180.html

 

Some good stuff, great find