?Bite Your Head Off?: Triggered by Embarrassing Loss to 17x NBA Champions, Kobe Bryant?s ?Brother? Pau Gasol Was Forced Into ?Kill or Get Killed? Mode

Even after retiring, Pau Gasol, the legendary player of the Los Angeles Lakers, continues to be a hot topic of conversation. His 20-year career with the NBA and his friendship with Kobe Bryant left behind a legacy that people will remember for years to come. Not only did the Spaniard pick up a few rings along the way, he also made a brother.

While his long career created many memorable moments, only a few remain engraved forever. Gasol opened up about one of them in a recently surfaced interview.

Kobe Bryant’s ‘brother’ recalls facing off in a crucial match 2 years after a humiliating defeat

Back in May 2020, Pau Gasol sat down for an interview with ESPN sportswriter Zach Lowe. The discussion touched upon various topics that served as highlights of the player?s life. From being traded to the Lakers in 2008 to Gasol?s friendship with the late NBA legend. During the same, Gasol explained what he would consider? to be ?the most important game of his NBA career.?

The game being discussed took place back in 2010 when the Lakers faced off against the Boston Celtics in ?Game 7? of the NBA Finals. The Spaniard found himself face to face against Celtics star and prominent trash talker Kevin Garnett.

For the 6x NBA All-Star, the match was a crucial one. It was only two years ago, during the finals, when Garnett and Co had pulled the wool over their eyes. Their skills and prowess led to Gasol?s team losing by 39 points.

This time, Gasol went toe to toe with The Big Ticket for almost 42 minutes. The Spaniard held his own and diverted his attention however he could.

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NBA executive Mitch Kupchak? clearly remembered the moment. While he maintained that everyone played ?just ridiculously hard?, he felt as if Gasol was someone who was ?possessed?.

Gasol adopted a ‘kill or get killed’ mindset during the crucial match

Recalling his mindset in that moment, Gasol took it upon himself to do whatever was required.

?We?re not going to allow this team to beat us on our home court,? said Gasol recollecting his thought process. ?We?re going to win this championship.?

?I was able to put myself into that killing mode of ?I’m just going to bite your head off?, and I don’t care who you are, I don’t care anything?.

The Lakers athlete left his opponents in the dust. He was able to score 19 points, 4 assists and 18 rebounds within the time period. Kobe Bryant, however, took the lead over his ?brother? by scoring 23 points, despite only making 2 assists and 15 rebounds.

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In the end, everything worked out well for the Lakers. They defeated the 17x NBA Champions by 4 points. The feeling of redemption was something that left a smile on the Spaniard?s face 13 years later. Surely, he’ll be smiling this weekend as he gets inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.