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Pau Gasol was like a brother to me. Over the course of my career, I suited up with dozens upon dozens of players. Among all of them, it’s safe to say that Pau was my favorite teammate ever.

We traded for Pau in the middle of the 2008 season, and he and I connected immediately. I remember going to his hotel room, pretty much as soon as he settled in, and we talked and got to know each other. I could feel the bond forming instantly, and it lasts to this day.

He was a very intelligent player, very detail-oriented. More than that, he had a big heart and just as big a drive to win. That was a common language that we spoke. The other common language was Spanish, and I think that played a part in our fast friendship. In general, we were both very culturally diverse. We both loved reading and musicals and opera and theater. We had a connection that ran deeper than hoops.