Lakers News: Stars Arrive In Droves For Pau Gasol Jersey Retirement

Pau Gasol was feted like a king.
Lakers News: Stars Arrive In Droves For Pau Gasol Jersey Retirement
Lakers News: Stars Arrive In Droves For Pau Gasol Jersey Retirement /

Longtime Los Angeles Lakers big man Pau Gasol was honored during last night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a retirement of his No. 16 jersey, in an absolutely star-studded affair.

Last night, in honor of the six-time All-Star's jersey retirement ceremony, several key Lakers players and coaches from Gasol's two title-winning LA teams were on hand to celebrate. The attendant tally included costars Lamar Odom, Metta Sandiford-Artest, Derek Fisher, Sasha Vujacic, Josh Powell, and DJ Mbenga, plus assistant coach/LA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Abdul-Jabbar's teammate Magic Johnson, who during Gasol's run was a part owner of the team, was on hand too, as were current team governor Jeanie Buss and team VP of basketball operations Rob Pelinka (who was Bryant's agent during the Gasol years).

Former LA head coach Phil Jackson flew in from Montana to celebrate Gasol's big moment.

The two notable player absences from the title teams: Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza, both of whom seem to be pretty darn available these days. Another key behind-the-scenes figures, former team president Mitch Kupchak, was also not seen at the ceremony. To be fair, he is busy stewarding the tanktastic Charlotte Hornets at present.

After he was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Lakers at the 2008 deadline, Gasol immediately transformed LA into title contenders. Los Angeles went to that year's NBA Finals, falling in six games to the Boston Celtics, but regrouped and wound up winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Gasol left the team as a free agent in 2014, after its championship window had already definitively closed. 

He holds career averages of 17 points on .507/.368/.753 shooting splits, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks a night.

Miami Heat star swingman Jimmy Butler, a Chicago Bulls-era teammate with Gasol during his last two years as an NBA All-Star, also joined the festivities to show his old comrade some love:

Butler, of course, is one of current Laker LeBron James' big rivals, having faced off against him in several hotly contested postseason bouts. Beyond the Heat's six-game NBA Finals loss to LA in 2020, Butler's biggest moment against James came with Gasol at his side. Their Bulls team pushed LBJ's Cleveland Cavaliers to a 2-1 Eastern Conference Semis series lead, before the Cavs rallied (thanks to some very convenient ref mistakes) to win in six, en route to an eventual 2015 Finals loss against the Golden State Warriors.

Gasol's family, including his little brother, ex-Lakers center Marc Gasol, was on hand too. The family of Pau's late Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant was in attendance as well:

Showtime Lakers legend Jamaal Wilkes, a small forward who won three of his four titles with LA in the 1980s, also showed up to pay his respects to Pau, as did Mayim Bialik (star of "Blossom," "The Big Bang Theory" and now "Jeopardy"), longtime NBA head coach and commentator Mike Fratello, and Red Hot Chili Peppers leaders/devout Lakers fanatics Anthony Kiedis and Flea.

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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Basketball is Alex's favorite sport, he likes the way they dribble up and down the court.