Pau Gasol’s emotional speech in which he remembered Kobe, Navarro, and his two ‘families’…

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The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) held the 2025 FIBA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Bahrain on Saturday, with Pau Gasol among those inducted.

The Spaniard has thus put the finishing touch to a legendary career that saw him enter the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, United States.

Pau Gasol’s full induction speech:

Good evening everyone, dear friends, Andreas, President of FIBA, distinguished guests and fellow honorees. Congratulations to all, it is an honor to be in the same generation and in the great basketball family. It is an honor for me to be here today as a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.This recognition is a testament to the collective effort of a family: first and foremost, my teammates, coaches and all the staff of every team I have been on. I want to start by recognizing and thanking the generations of players and coaches who came before me. Thank you for paving the way. Thank you for growing this game for a kid like me, from a small town, Sant Boi de Llobregat.1992 was undoubtedly a key moment in basketball history. The Olympic Games in Barcelona. The impact of the Dream Team was more than inspiring. It gave me, and many other kids around the world, a dream. Something very powerful. A dream to chase. It broadened the horizon of how you could play the game we love. Growing up, I was a bit of a late bloomer. I played at my local school until I was 12 years old. And a year later I joined my first club after my father showed me a newspaper advertisement about one of those height operations. I guess I was tall enough to get into the trial. We looked at each other and said, “Why not? Let’s give it a try.” I guess the coach liked what he saw in me, and I joined CB Cornella for three seasons. After those three years of learning and with the help of my coaches and teammates, I knew I was ready for the next chapterI received offers from the best teams in Spain, but I was determined to play for only one: FC Barcelona. And I did. I joined the team. I was the last player on the roster, but that didn’t matter. I knew that, with hard work, I could earn my place. Juan Montes, a coach of mine, challenged me to improve defensively. Aito Garcia Reneses taught me the importance of detail and forming good habits. It was five incredible seasons with FC Barcelona.And then my NBA journey began. In 2001, I was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, and immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. I was the second Spanish player to play in the NBA after the great Fernando Martin, also a Hall of Famer. I was a young kid from Spain, excited and determined to enter a whole new world. A faster, more physical game, a different culture, a new language. But what I found in Memphis was a city and a team that embraced me. They gave me space to grow, learn and at some point lead. I will always be grateful for that foundation.Then, when I joined the Lakers, I had the privilege of playing for the great Phil Jackson and his extraordinary coaching staff. With incredible teammates. None more important than my brother, Kobe. Our connection went far beyond that. He was unique. He challenged me to leave everything on the court every day to become NBA champions. I will never forget how he welcomed me to the team. We built something special. It wasn’t easy. Trust, accountability, unwavering commitment and sheer determination. I miss him and Gigi so much.The NBA taught me to evolve. To adapt, to always find new ways to bring value to my team. From Memphis to Los Angeles, Chicago, San Antonio and Milwaukee. I experienced different systems, cities and philosophies. Each stage marked me. And I will always cherish the relationships I built and the impact each of those chapters has had on my life.Now let’s talk about La Familia. Representing Spain has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Wearing the national team jersey was never just about competing. It was about identity, pride and purpose. I remember the first time I received a physical letter inviting me to join the U17 team to play a European Championship qualifier in Slovenia. We made the team, we qualified, and that led us to win the U18 European Championship in Bulgaria and the U19 World Cup in Portugal. They called us the Golden Boys.From my senior debut at the European Championships in Turkey in 2001, to our last race together in Tokyo 2021, every moment has been truly extraordinary. We won three European golds, a FIBA World Cup, and climbed the Olympic podium with two silvers and a bronze. But what meant the most was how we did it.The Family is based on trust, respect, commitment and companionship. I’m going to name a few teammates, because without them I wouldn’t be here today. Juan Carlos Navarro, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa – who I think is around here somewhere – Sergio Rodriguez, Carlos Jimenez, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Llull, Felipe Reyes and my brother Marc, among many others. I’m sure some of those names sound familiar to you. They were not just teammates, they were brothers. Marc, literally. We fought for each other, we believed in each other and we shared the responsibility of representing our country with pride and passion.Our coaches, I also want to mention them, were the drivers of our success. Javier Imbroda, Pepu Hernandez, Sergio Scariolo, among others. Their preparation, their confidence, their understanding of our dynamics and how they helped to build it made us more than a team. They made us a force. We built something lasting. We inspired the next generation of Spanish players, and hopefully also from other countries. To believe that excellence, humility and brotherhood make a difference in this world.And that legacy means so much more to me than any individual achievement. As much as this journey has been defined by the teams I’ve been on, it has also been defined by those I’ve competed against. Great rivals make you better. They challenge you, they push you to evolve, they motivate you to give your best. In my international career I have had the privilege of facing some of the best players and teams in basketball. The games against the United States, those Olympic finals, were some of the most intense games I have ever experienced. Competing against players like Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Melo, KD… the list goes on. And so many games against France, Serbia, Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, Argentina, Australia and many other great teams. I will never forget the competitiveness of players like Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki – who is also here – Peja Stojakovic, Yao Ming, Manu Ginobili, Andrei Kirilenko. They were not just rivals, they were ambassadors of basketball. And together we elevated the sport. To all of them, thank you.To the fans, you have been with me every step of the way. Your energy and passion for the game always motivated me to improve. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

There is a quote from Kobe that says: “You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light.” The world often sees the medals, the trophies, the moments in the spotlight. But what really defines an athlete happens away from the public eye. The commitment to be the best version of yourself. Here I want to thank two people. A great friend and coach, Pepe Casal, who helped me develop my body. I was a very skinny guy. He helped me gain muscle mass over about 10 years. And then my dear friend, here present, Joaquin Juan, who was with me in many of those dark hours for almost 20 years. So I just want to thank you, Joaquin, for your hard work, for your commitment. Keep working, keep working. Behind every achievement in my life, behind every medal, every championship, every success, every moment — also the defeats — is my family. They have been my greatest source of strength. My parents raised me with values that shaped my life: integrity, humility, empathy and a sense of responsibility.Both come from the medical field. They always supported my dreams, taking me to training sessions, not missing a single game, motivating me to be curious on and off the court, and reminding me that the most important thing is who you are, not what you achieve. To my brothers, Marc and Adrià, I feel fortunate for everything we shared, built and lived together. I am very proud of you and love you very much.And to my wife Catherine, you are my rock, my love. You helped me through every change, especially at the end of my career. After such a long career, it’s not easy. And you sacrificed so much of your life. Thank you. I love you. Our wonderful children are here tonight, and they have made themselves known tonight. Being their father is the most important role of my life. And every day they remind me what really matters. Thank you. I think it’s the same for all of us. The families who support us, who love us, who are patient with us. It’s impossible to measure how much of my success really belongs to them. So this honor is as much theirs as it is mine.But life is not about the end or the destination. What matters most is the journey. And the journey continues. One of the greatest joys of my career has been seeing the growth of basketball around the world. Today we see players from everywhere competing at the highest level. Inspiring new generations in every corner of the planet.The game has become a universal language that unites people beyond borders. It reflects our shared values: teamwork, resilience and passion. I am proud to have been part of this.And I’m even more excited about what’s to come. I also want to acknowledge the great progress we have seen in women’s basketball. There has always been incredible talent. But in recent years we have seen a new wave of growth and recognition for female athletes. The WNBA, FIBA competitions, and the rise of women’s basketball at all levels is inspiring millions of girls and boys to dream big. The future of basketball must include everyone, and we must support and uplift our female players.Let’s stay united for the growth of this beloved sport.Thank you all very much

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