The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Pau Gasol on Feb. 1, 2008, giving Kobe Bryant the partner that he sorely needed. The two had a connection seemingly from the first moment they stepped on the floor together, and as Gasol noted, they had even discussed playing together the prior summer, something that was believed to be a pipe dream.
Though Gasol had led the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs three consecutive years from 2004-06, they failed to win a single game in each of those appearances. But that wasn’t going to be the case with the Lakers and would be unacceptable for Bryant, who had a singular goal of winning a championship at all costs.