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Los Angeles Lakers: Building the all-time Kobe Bryant teammate team

By Jason Reed

Shaquille O'Neal (L) and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the 1st quarter of game two of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets 07 June 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON (Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Shaquille O'Neal (L) and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the 1st quarter of game two of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets 07 June 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON (Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Kobe Bryant’s best power forward teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers: Pau Gasol (2009-10)

Kobe Bryant would not have won championships four and five, at least not with the Los Angeles Lakers, if it was not for Pau Gasol. You cannot tell the history of Bryant’s career nor the history of the Lakers without mentioning Gasol extensively and because of that, he deserves to have his number retired by the Lakers.

Trading for Gasol, which included trading the draft rights to his brother, Marc, is what kickstarted the Lakers from turning into a true contender from being a lingering team. Gasol’s impact was instantly felt and the Lakers made it all the way to the NBA Finals in his first season with the team.

Of course, the Lakers fell short to the Boston Celtics, but they went on to win the NBA Championship in the next two seasons, with Gasol being a huge component of those title wins. He was especially impressive in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Celtics.

It was that second championship season that was the best in Gasol’s career with the Lakers. It was the fewest points per game he scored in his first three seasons in LA (18.3) but it was also the first time in his career that he averaged a double-double as he averaged 11.3 rebounds per game.

His playoff numbers were even more impressive as he averaged 19.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. In that pivotal Game 7 that we mentioned, Gasol scored 19 points and hauled in 18 rebounds. He scored nine of his points in the fourth quarter alone.

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