Kobe Bryant wanted to retire with Pau Gasol on Los Angeles Lakers
By Bryan Rose
While Kobe Bryant wasn’t afraid to sometimes vent his frustration with Pau Gasol, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar didn’t want him to leave in free agency.
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In fact, Bryant reportedly told Pau Gasol that he wanted to retire with him and that he should stay with the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s something that Pau Gasol must have pondered as it was said he strongly thought of re-signing with the Lakers during the offseason though apparently wanted a change and opted to sign with the Chicago Bulls instead.
Pau said Kobe urged him to stay with Lakers and retire together.
— Sam Smith (@SamSmithHoops) September 29, 2014
Kobe Bryant’s request shouldn’t fall on deaf ears as it’s not very often the Black Mamba goes out of his way to recruit a player, which says plenty about what Pau Gasol can bring not only the court but the locker room as well. It also speaks to Gasol’s drive to win as Kobe Bryant has previously shown a lack of desire to keep players who aren’t overly concerned with wins and losses (looking at you Dwight Howard).
Pau Gasol is hoping to return to form with the Chicago Bulls this season while Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a rebuild in a very deep and tough Western Conference.
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