On Feb. 1, 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers pulled the trigger on a trade that brought them star big man Pau Gasol, and it massively changed their fortunes for the better.
At the time, they were going through their fourth season after trading Shaquille O’Neal, and despite scattered moments of strong play, they had been mostly a mediocre team.
But Gasol’s arrival made them instant championship contenders. That season, Kobe Bryant and crew returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004, and in both of the next two seasons, they took home the world championship.
For all his contributions during his six-and-a-half seasons with them, the Lakers will be retiring Gasol’s No. 16 jersey on March 7 when they host the Memphis Grizzlies, the team he played for prior to coming to L.A.
Gasol may have always been somewhat underappreciated by Lakers fans, but his impact on the team was unmistakable.
His zenith with the team came in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals versus the Boston Celtics, when he had 19 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots to help it claim the title.
Traditionally, the Lakers have only retired former players’ jerseys following a Hall of Fame induction, but Gasol will be an exception.
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Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire
