The Lakers welcome Pau Gasol and the Bulls to town on Thursday, which put Kobe Bryant in a nostalgic mood. Bryant made a strong statement when asked about Gasol's Lakers career in a Tuesday morning media session.
Kobe Bryant says Lakers fans didn’t appreciate Pau Gasol
He also called him one of the best post players of all time
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
“I think the city of L.A. didn’t really appreciate what he did and what we had,” Bryant said of his former teammate, via ESPN.com, “and so as a consequence, everybody kind of fell in line with the [former Lakers coach] Mike D’Antoni rhetoric of small ball and all this other bullshit. For a guy that has two championships to be treated that way, you don’t do that, man.”’
Gasol helped lead the Lakers to two championships and three Finals appearances during his six and a half years in L.A. His arrival provided Bryant with the running mate he lacked following the departure of Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat in 2004. In three years without O'Neal and before the Gasol trade, the Lakers never made it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Bryant said it took him less than one game to recognize Gasol’s talent.
“As soon as he caught the ball and he finished it, I ran back to the bench, I said, ‘Yes, Phil,’” -- referring to Phil Jackson, “‘we’ve got a big that can catch it and finish! We’re going to the Finals!’”
But the decision to hire Mike D’Antoni over Jackson in the early stages of the 2012-13 season marked the beginning of Gasol’s ending in L.A. Gasol’s numbers and role dropped under D’Antoni and the two clashed as both tried to make it work with Dwight Howard. A year later, Gasol signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Bulls. He made the All-Star team in his first year in Chicago and is averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks this season.
“[He’s] one of the best post players of all time,” Bryant added. “He’s fantastic.”
* * *
Old timers unite: Kobe respects Dirk Nowitzki’s game-winning shot on Tuesday
See More:
