7) Pau Gasol
“It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, telling him, ‘I’m deciding not to play with you anymore.’ I signed with the Bulls because I wanted to put myself in position to win another title. I haven’t been able to do that. I miss him a lot. I miss his presence. I miss that attitude. Not many players have it.”
Definitely one of Kobe’s best friends in the league, Pau Gasol has always been a humble guy who always speaks from the heart. It takes a high amount of courage to admit that he misses him as much as he does after voluntarily leaving the organization to play in Chicago.
Gasol won two championships with Kobe and saw firsthand what it meant to work harder than possible in pursuit of greatness and the love of the game. Kobe and Pau shared an amazing relationship and till date, Kobe ranks him as one of the best teammates he had during his career.
