Former Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol recently admitted to becoming “emotional” while watching Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals recently.
Gasol told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times that watching the game reminded him of the many tragic deaths that the Lakers organization has experienced since that 2010 title win.
“He talked about how Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were there on the stage celebrating the title, how Lakers owner Jerry Buss, NBA Commissioner David Stern, Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen and ESPN’s Stuart Scott were also there on that magical night,” Turner wrote.
Gasol put the sense of loss into his own words.
“All those people … now 10 years later they are not here with us,” Gasol said during an interview with The Times. “Obviously Kobe and Gigi, which breaks my heart every time I think about it, and seeing Vanessa and the kids. It was a lot. That’s why I got emotional and I think about it. I still do.”
Gasol has been open about the deep sense of sadness that he has felt since the death of his former teammate. He recently admitted that the changes in daily life due to the coronavirus pandemic have exacerbated his sense of mourning.
Hopefully along with the sadness, Gasol was able to enjoy rewatching Game 7. While the elder Bryant is gone, the memories that Gasol has of him will live on.
The same can be said about the countless memories that Lakers fans all over the world have of the five-time champion.
