One hero and three helpers! The most important helper in a sad career is Gasol

On May 15, in the long history of the NBA, the glory of superstars is often inseparable from the support of right-hand assistants around you. As a legendary star of the Lakers, Kobe Bryant has worked with many stars in his career, but the one who can truly be called his most important helper is Paul Gasol. Although Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe joined forces to create a three-game winning streak, O'Neal was the absolute core of the team during that period, and Kobe was more of an existence as the second in command. And Gasol's arrival really allowed Kobe to experience the true meaning of "one hero and three helpers".

In February 2008, the Lakers obtained Paul Gasol through a trade, which completely changed the direction of Kobe's career. Although the Lakers at that time had a super scorer like Kobe, their lineup was insufficient and it was difficult to break through in the fiercely competitive West. Gasol's arrival injected new vitality into the Lakers. His comprehensive skills, excellent support and stable inside scores perfectly match Kobe's game style. Gasol can not only score in the inside, but also support at a high position, creating more opportunities for Kobe to score easily. This complementarity has completely renewed the Lakers' offensive system.

Between 2008 and 2010, Kobe and Gasol led the Lakers to the Finals for three consecutive years and won the championship twice. During this glorious period, Gasol was able to contribute 18+10 per game, which was an indispensable core of the Lakers' inside. Especially in the 2009 and 2010 finals, Gasol performed well against top insiders like Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett, putting huge pressure on Kobe. In the seventh game of the 2010 Finals, Gasol scored a super double-double of 19 points and 18 rebounds, helping the Lakers narrowly defeat the Celtics. This victory is also regarded as one of the most important champions of Kobe's career.

Unlike O'Neal's cooperation period, Kobe's relationship with Gasol was more harmonious. Although O'Neal and Kobe created the Lakers dynasty, their relationship was tense off the court and often had conflicts due to team status issues. Gasol is willing to play the role of the second leader and never competes with Kobe for the team's leadership position. This humble attitude and professional spirit made Kobe admire him very much, and the two established a deep friendship. Kobe once publicly stated: "Without Paul, I would not have won those two championships." This sentence fully reflects Gasol's position in Kobe's mind.

From the technical characteristics, the combination of Gasol and Kobe is perfect. Kobe is one of the best scorers in history, with unsolvable offensive ability; Gasol is one of the most skilled big men, able to score, rebound, support and defend. Gasol's high-level support ability makes Kobe's off-ball running more threatening, and Kobe's restraint also creates more opportunities for Gasol to play in the inside. This complementary relationship makes the Lakers' triangular offensive system run smoothly, becoming one of the most enjoyable and efficient teams in the league. In contrast, although O'Neal has stronger personal abilities, he needs to hold the ball a lot, which has certain conflicts with Kobe's style of play. O'Neal was the most dominant center in the league at his peak, but his playing style required the team to build a system around him, and Kobe had to adjust his role. Gasol can adapt to Kobe's game rhythm, stand up when needed, and retreat to the second line at critical moments. This flexibility is something O'Neal does not have.

Gasol's help to Kobe is not only reflected on the field, but also on the field's impact is also important. Later in Kobe's career, Gasol became a stabilizer in the locker room, helping young players grow and maintaining the chemistry of the team. When Kobe is out due to injury, Gasol can take on the leadership responsibility and ensure the team remains competitive. This all-round support allows Kobe to focus on improving his game without having to be distracted by other matters of the team.

Looking back on Kobe's career, the three consecutive championships with O'Neal were certainly brilliant, but Kobe had not reached his personal peak at that time. During the two consecutive championships with Gasol, Kobe is in the mature stage of technology and psychology, and Gasol's appearance makes him feel more and more powerful. It can be said that without Gasol, Kobe may not be able to return to the peak after 2008, and it is even more difficult to achieve the great achievement of two consecutive championships. This also confirms the old Chinese saying: "One hero and three helpers." Even a superstar like Kobe needs a capable helper like Gasol to achieve greatness.

Now, Kobe has passed away and Gasol has retired for many years, but the glory they created with the Lakers will be remembered forever. Gasol is not only the most important helper in Kobe's career, but also a true friend in his life. At Kobe's memorial service, Gasol's emotional speech made countless people cry. This friendship that surpasses basketball may be more precious than any championship trophy.