You cannot tell the history of Kobe Bryant, or the Los Angeles Lakers, for that matter, without mentioning Pau Gasol. While he was not the best player on a title-winning team, he was an important player that led to Kobe’s fourth and fifth championships and the Lakers’ 15th and 16th.
It was trading for Gasol that kickstarted the Lakers’ title efforts in the 2007-08 season, which culminated in the team winning back to back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010. Gasol will forever be a legend to Laker fans because of what he contributed and there is a legitimate case that the team should retire his jersey.