Pau Gasol on Kobe Bryant: ‘I miss him a lot’

(Pau Gasol:) My first day with the Lakers, I met the team at The Ritz in Washington, D.C., and at 1:30 in the morning there was a knock on my door. I found out later that Kobe (Bryant) doesn’t sleep much. I sat on the bed, I think, and he sat on the table next to the TV. He welcomed me to the team, and then he told me it was “go” time.

I signed with the Bulls because I wanted to put myself in position to win another title. I haven’t been able to do that. I miss him a lot. I miss his presence. I miss that attitude. Not many players have it.

Source: Pau Gasol as told to Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated