The rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics dates back to the early days of the NBA! Every battle between the two teams has been intense. From Jerry West and Bill Russell to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the two teams have often faced off for the Larry O’Brien trophy. This century as well, the faceoff in 2008 was no less thrilling than what we witnessed in 2010. Pau Gasol, who played with the Lakers during these matchups, recalled the experience while discussing his latest initiative with the Duke of Sussex. He believes that this partnership is looking to provide the same camaraderie he experienced with his teammates back in 2010.

During his latest interview, the Lakers legend stated that his partnership with his teammates during that series was key to the Lakers’ victory against the formidable Celtics. The Celtics had a 3–2 lead going into Game 6. This is the moment that Gasol highlighted. 

After missing their chance in 2008 against the Celtics, the Lakers won the title in 2009 against the Orlando Magic. In 2010, they once again faced their rivals. This time, both the teams faced off with a championship in the bag. Revenge was on the minds of Kobe Bryant, Paul Gasol, and Co.

“That Celtics team was unreal, with three guys who went on to the Hall of Fame (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen). We were all exhausted, but we had to be ready to battle and take this series to the full seven games. As a team, we continued to practice, strategize, and dig deep to pull out all the possible energy we could for this stretch. As you know, we went on to win the final two games of the series and take home our second NBA Championship in a row,” Gasol shared via SI.

The Lakers rallied in the last two games at home to reverse the outcome, ultimately defeating the Boston Celtics. The two teams have faced each other numerous times, with the Lakers finally managing to tie the Celtics’ record 17 championships in 2020. However, Boston again went past LA with the 2024 title win. Gasol has forever added his name to this rivalry and as mentioned earlier, this was a part of the reason why he teamed up with Prince Harry.

Pau Gasol’s athletic past inspired him to join BetterUp 

Gasol declared how his athletic career influenced him to team up with the Duke of Sussex and BetterUp, the largest mental health and coaching company. Prince Harry serves as the Chief Impact Officer at this U.S.-based firm. He has been a part of it since 2021. As part of the campaign, the former NBA player was also interviewed by Prince Harry.

The program, called ‘Find Their Flow,’ will be created in close collaboration with the Spanish basketball star’s foundation. It aims to help individuals discover their own pace and strength, ultimately leading to a happier and more peaceful life.

Gasol, who as an athlete witnessed leaders guiding and supporting fellow players, was inspired to do the same through this new initiative. “That’s the sort of success BetterUp tries to help organizations set themselves up for – the kind where leaders are able to help every member of a team reach their full potential,” Gasol said. Just like the Los Angeles Lakers did to win the title that year.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.