LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 28: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers is consoled by Kobe Bryant after coming out of the game in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 103-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)thx
Pau Gasol gives ultimate tribute to Kobe, Gianna Bryant at daughter’s birth.
Stars from around the world are sharing tributes to the late NBA GOAT Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash in January and now Los Angeles Lakers’ Paul Gasol has done the ultimate tribute in the form of his newborn daughter’s name.
“Our little one has finally arrived,” Gasol wrote. “The delivery went really well and we couldn’t be happier. Elisabet Gianna Gasol, a very meaningful name for our super beautiful daughter.”
He also added the hashtag “Girl Dad” made famous by Bryant who was proud of having all girls.
In case you missed it, the homage is the middle name of Gasol’s daughter, named after Gianna Bryant who was just 13-years-old when she died, along with seven others who were coming from a travel basketball game.
Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant were like two peas in a pod
Gasol and Bryant were good friends during their time on the Lakers and Gasol was deeply affected by the death of Bryant.
“First, as a teammate, he made me a better player,” Gasol told ClutchPoints. “He brought the best out of me on the basketball court. He helped me grow as a player and a person, but then it was more like an older brother where I could reach out and have dinners when we would be in the same city.”
He recalled hearing about the death of his friend.
“I froze. I was driving, and I was about to get home in Barcelona,” Gasol told ClutchPoints. “My wife was next to me, and she told me. I completely froze mentally and emotionally.”