Los Angeles Lakers are retiring a $120 million superstar’s jersey over that of 5x champion and herald of the Minneapolis Lakers

ByKamran Khan August 19, 2022July 27, 2025

Pau Gasol is getting his Jersey retired officially by the Lakers, but do his contributions justify it?

7 years, 3 finals in a row and 2 championships. On paper, the stats look good enough to potentially warrant an induction of HoF.

Hall of Fame, but not a jersey in the rafters. Players of that pedigree are often few and far between, like Kobe Bryant or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Pau Gasol was great, but his underlying numbers don’t line up to push him over the line from mortality to immortality.

As a Laker, he averaged a solid 18 points and teetered around that 10-rebound mark. He had some great shots and was a solid second option. One of the best moments of his is that “telepathic” connection in the finals. Pau is like LeBron James in a way. Both have solid results, but not enough to say that they bleed purple and gold.

There are many more to Lakers history that deserve recognition but seem to have been forgotten. Some of the younger fans wouldn’t even know who Gary Payton is, if it wasn’t for his son being moderately famous on the Golden State Warriors.

A jersey retirement should be special: This one somehow seems forced and reactionary considering how close he was to Kobe.

A Champion, legend, and forever part of the Lakers Family.

3/7/23 – We raise Pau Gasol's jersey into the rafters pic.twitter.com/F9snGrHO9o

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 17, 2022

Pau Gasol is undoubtedly a great player, but George Mikan and Derek Fisher take precedence over his contributions in Los Angeles

Derek Fisher and George Mikan are much more deserving of having their jerseys alongside the legends. Mikan especially, having led the Lakers to their first 5 championships. 5 trophies that the people of LA proudly celebrate. The number 99 should have been the first number up there, in honor of the late Mr. Basketball.

If the Lakers take credit for championships won outside of Los Angeles, then they should honor the man who brought them those championships. They cannot be picky about what they respect from their history.

Derek Fisher is a player that many fans tend to overlook when it comes to championship runs. He was THAT guy when it came to big moments and he was a point guard who ran the show. He was a perfect match for Kobe, who could focus solely on getting the points from him.

But hey, a minority opinion should not be taken as a testament. Congratulations to the Spaniard for his entry into the annals of one of the greatest organizations in the history of sport!