The Epic Kobe Bryant-Pau Gasol Story Revealed in ‘The Redeem Team’ Clip originally appeared nbc sports chicago
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were teammates los angeles lakers And a very close friend off the court.
However, their tight bond was temporarily broken at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Bryant was playing for the highly motivated Team USA, which won an embarrassing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics, while Gasol was competing for Spain, who was seen as the biggest threat to the redeem team’s gold. I got
When the United States and Spain first faced off in a group game, the two Lakers teammates were involved in an early physical encounter. Bryant ran into the screen-setting Gasol in the opening moments of the game and knocked the big man to the ground.
It turns out that Bryant’s hard defensive foul was unintentional.
in future clips Netflix documentary “The Redeem Team”, lebron james And Dwyane Wade said that Bryant actually schedule Pass Gasol as a play to set the tone.
warning: The video below contains NSFW language.
LeBron James: “Kobe said he was going to set the tone for the game to start. He said, ‘I’m running through Pow’s fucking chest.’ “
Dwayne Wade: “‘First play of the game playing against Pau Gasol.’ And we were like, ‘What?'”
LeBron James: “Hey, trippin’. Hey, it’s your teammate. I don’t mean it.”
Dwayne Wade: “He said, ‘First play of the game, I know what they’re going to do.'” I am running away,” he said.
LeBron James: “I swear, first play the game [he did it]We were like, “Oh my God!”
Pau Gasol:”He just came right in the middle of my chest, went through me and tried to message not only me but his teammates. It’s a small margin, but I don’t care about anything other than winning. “
Carmelo Anthony: “He was like, ‘No, he’s not my teammate right now. Fuck you. Wake up.'” “I love this energy, this is what we need. ”
LeBron James: “We were like, ‘Oh, we can’t lose this game, we’re trying to beat Spain.’ was.
Gasol added that Bryant visited him and several other Spanish players before the game, which Gasol believes may have been part of Bryant’s “strategy to soften me up.” Another story of how Bryant was the ultimate competitor.
James was also proven right. Following Bryant’s heavy foul in the 119-82 loss, the Americans continued to destroy Spain. They then recaptured gold by defeating the Spaniards again in the championship game by a score of 118-107.
Bryant stole the championship from Gasol at the 2008 Olympics, but the two combined to lead the Lakers to their second consecutive Larry O’Brien Trophy the following NBA season.
“The Redeem Team” releases on Netflix on Friday, October 7th.
