Pau Gasol's time in Los Angeles won't ever be forgotten.
Following six and a half seasons with the Grizzlies, Gasol was traded from Memphis to Los Angeles in 2008.
A one-time All-Star at the time, Gasol joined forces with Kobe Bryant to form one of the best duos in the NBA. Together, they made three straight trips to the Finals and won two championships, besting the Magic in 2009 and the Celtics in 2010.
Gasol is now set to have his jersey retired almost a decade after playing his last game with the Lakers.
When are the Lakers retiring Pau Gasol's jersey?
- Date: March 7, 2023
- Time: 10:00pm ET
The Lakers will raise Gasol's No. 16 to the rafters of Crypto.com Arena on March 7, 2023.
Their opponent? None other than the Grizzlies, the team that acquired Gasol on draft night in 2001.
The game is scheduled to start at 10:00 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally in the United States on TNT. Details about the ceremony have not yet been released.
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Gasol's jersey will hang alongside the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Jerry West. Gasol tweeted that he is "beyond thankful and honored" to have his jersey retired.
Beyond thankful and honored!!! 🙌🏼🙏🏼💜💛 #LakersFamily https://t.co/ZhLJgQSqIJ
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 17, 2022
Gasol posted averages of 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per game in a Lakers uniform.
In addition to winning two championships, Gasol earned three of his six All-Star selections in Los Angeles, as well as three of his four All-NBA selections.
Gasol announced his retirement from basketball in 2021. In a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver called him "one of the most accomplished players of his generation." Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, meanwhile, made it clear that it was a matter of when, not if, the franchise retired Gasol's jersey.
