Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to two of their six NBA championships since 2000 (in 2009 and 2010). Other than playing for the Lakers, one major thing that they had in common was that they were both ‘girl dads’ who were promoting women’s basketball after their retirements.
Pau Gasol recently went to watch the LA Sparks vs Washington Mystics WNBA game, where the media caught up with him about various things like being a ‘girl dad’ and being in the same building where he won two championships with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
“First, as a ‘Girl Dad’, I want my daughter to have the same opportunities as my son has. So just excited to continue to support the game, invest in the game, help it grow in many ways and in every way I can,” said Gasol when asked about winning the Kobe-Gigi Bryant’s WNBA Advocacy award.
The reporter went on to ask him about the growth of the women’s game and the memories he had of being in the same building where he won two NBA championships with the Lakers.
“A lot of memories of the many great years that I was able to play here, play for the Lakers, be here, represent the city. You know, we had a great run in the beginning, early when I joined the team, but every day I got to wear the Lakers’ jersey was an honor, and I wore it with pride.”
Gasol played with the Lakers from 2008 to 2014. He instantly saw success with back-to-back championships, but had a falling out with the front office after they tried to trade him for Chris Paul in 2011 and mishandled his trade rumors in the following years.
Gasol went on to talk about how impressed he was with Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Kelsey Plum of the LA Sparks before the interview was concluded. The game ended with the final score 78-81 in the Sparks’ favor. Kiki Iriafen led all scorers for the Mystics with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist, while Dearica Hamby led all scorers for the Sparks with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
When Bryant was alive, he clearly stated that he would not return to coaching basketball after retirement. But for his daughter, Gigi Bryant, he started a sports academy and began coaching her team, and went against his own word just to help her. Shows how much he loved his daughter that he was willing to do something for her that he wouldn’t do for anybody on this planet.
