“At first glance, (he) could even easily pass as a medical professional … He’s genial. Poised. Well-spoken in multiple languages. Confident, yet calming.” These are the recent words of an ESPN author regarding a certain former professional basketball player. When you know the player’s inborn Brain Type, it makes a great deal of sense. He was speaking of former Laker Pau Gasol, a #15 FCIL.
The author sat down for an interview with Gasol last week, which ironically focused on the relationship between Gasol and Kobe Bryant (#2 BEAR) as teammates. Gasol and Bryant were complete opposite Brain Types (even motor skills!), yet shared a special connection that made them a formidable force on the court. Gasol’s jersey will be retired next to Kobe’s on March 7th when Los Angeles hosts the Grizzlies, the team that actually traded him to the Lakers 15 years ago, and he credits much of his success to Bryant.
“It’s impossible [to separate],” Gasol said, wiping tears from his eyes. “It’s inevitable. I don’t know how. … My number goes up there, in big reason, because of him. And also how he made me better, how he made us better, how he led us in those runs and the effect that he had. And then obviously not having him here with us, it’s tough.”
Kobe and Gasol won two championships together, and unlike the off-and-on drama/rivalry between Shaq (#6 BEIR) and Bryant, the two got along quite well. Gasol, despite his natural CEO “take lead” wiring, knew his place on the Laker team, and played back-up to the stylish showman Bryant perfectly. Gasol was a dependable, consistent “go to” for the Black Mamba, not craving the limelight, only wanting to win. When they finally beat the Celtics the following year after losing to them in the 2008 NBA finals, Pau shared what made the difference for him. “We’re going to win this championship. I don’t care how it is. I don’t care what I have to do. It’s kind of like that survival instinct of kill or get killed. And I was able to put myself into that killing mode of I’m just going to bite your head off, and I don’t care who you are, I don’t care anything.”
He added: “That’s how Kobe was on a gamely basis.”
A #2 and #15, opposites, yet both extremely competitive. It worked well for this dynamic duo.
Written by: Staff
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