Lakers News: How Kobe Bryant Reacted To LA's Pau Gasol Acquisition
When the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies back in 2008, it meant that the team had given Kobe Bryant another All-Star player to work with.
Bryant had been adamant about getting some help in his quest for another NBA title, and Gasol gave him just what he wanted. But how did Bryant react when the trade went down?
Mark Medina of Sportskeeda spoke with with some members of the Lakers' ownership, front office and roster to ask them just that. Former Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, now guiding the Charlotte Hornets to draft Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson for some reason, was one of those members.
“After we did the deal, Kobe called me up," Kupchak revealed. "He was excited like a kid. Phil was kind of stoic. He had no idea we were going to do the deal until the night before. I told him that I thought the next day that we’d be able to get a deal done. He just kind of looked at me and said, Huh?’ It was an honest look. He said, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Yeah but it’s not done yet.’ Then he turned around and walked away. He took it one way and Kobe took it another way."
Former head coach Phil Jackson also explained what Bryant did during the first game together after the Gasol trade.
“Kobe came to the bench and said: 'Great, we’ve got a big guy that can run the court, catch, and finish on the break!'” Jackson said.
Acquiring Gasol meant that the Lakers would become instant title contenders again, something that Bryant desperately wanted to get back to. It obviously worked as the team won two titles in 2009 and 2010, while being led by Byrant and Gasol.
"Bryant also predicted to Jackson, 'we’re going to the Finals!' Jackson laughed, but Bryant maintained years later he was “dead-ass serious,' Medina wrote. He was right. Following the Gasol acquisition, the Lakers appeared in three consecutive Finals that included a loss to Boston (2008), a win against Orlando (2009) and a win against Boston (2010)."
Bryant and Gasol worked extremely well together as they formed one of the strongest pairings across the NBA.
Both players' jerseys now hang in the rafters inside Crypto.com Arena, and they are forever enshrined as Laker legends.
Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!
