Kobe Bryant Thought He’d Retire With Pau Gasol

Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant wanted to retire with Pau Gasol but instead Pau Gasol signed with the Chicago Bulls

More from Chicago Bulls

In one of the biggest moves in the summer, the Chicago Bulls signed big man Pau Gasol away from the Los Angeles Lakers. This move obviously didn’t please guard Kobe Bryant. In fact, Kobe Bryant thought he and Pau Gasol would retire together.

“He wanted to pretty much retire together,” Gasol said of Bryant via Michael Lee of The Washington Post. “That was an attractive option. One part of me wanted to stick with him and try to turn it around. But deep inside of me, I felt it was time after everything that I’d been through that I wanted to put myself in a position where I was highly stimulated. Kind of change directions a little bit, fresh start and get going again.”

Pau Gasol, however, is very happy to be with the Bulls.

“I thought the Bulls had a great opportunity, a great potential to achieve something special,” Gasol said. “Having a nice mix of young players that are extremely hungry that haven’t got to that level yet but are close. I wanted to be a part of that, and my gut also told me, ‘Hey, this is a place you want to be.”

The Bulls have needed a spark on offense for some time and Pau Gasol could provide the second option they covet. With Derrick Rose healthy and the Bulls always having an elite defense under Tom Thibodeau, they look like legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Pau Gasol averaged 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game last season while shooting 48.0% from the field, 28.6% from beyond the arc and 73.6% from the free throw line.

Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant wanted to retire with Pau Gasol but instead Pau Gasol signed with the Chicago Bulls

More from FanSided