"He Admired Kobe": Pau Gasol Talks About Anthony Edwards' Admiration For Former Lakers Teammate
Sep 19, 2025
In more ways than one, the legacy of the late Kobe Bryant lives on in today’s NBA. This week, Bryant’s former teammate spoke of the influence that the Black Mamba has had on one of the league’s bright young stars.
On Wednesday, two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol recalled a conversation that he had with Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards about emulating Bryant, who tragically passed away in 2020.
“When I talked to [Edwards] a couple of years ago at the FIBA World Championship in Manila, he said that he followed Kobe, he admired Kobe and the Mamba Mentality,” Gasol said on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” where he was debuting as an analyst. “He has the desire to be the best.”
As far as former Lakers are concerned, few have gained a deeper insight into Bryant’s mindset than Gasol. The iconic Spanish forward played alongside Bryant for seven seasons, taking three trips to the NBA Finals and winning back-to-back championships. Off the court, Gasol and Bryant had a strong brotherly bond, with the big man being named godfather of Bryant’s eldest daughter, Natalia.
While Gasol sees some Kobe in Ant-Man, he went on to issue a challenge to the 24-year-old franchise player.
“Now, he’s getting to that next step, that next stage of his career where he has to give a little more at all levels,” Gasol said of Edwards. “Not just scoring. Let’s do a little more on the defensive end. Let’s do a little more in leading and challenging and holding teammates accountable, and getting the best out of them on a daily basis.”
For what it’s worth, Edwards is said to be focusing solely on improving his game this offseason. With no international tournaments on his summer schedule, Edwards has reportedly stayed off social media for the most part and quietly worked on closing the gap between himself and the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP conversation.
This, of course, bears shades of the work ethic that Bryant exemplified in his lifetime. Though it’s been five years since the Lakers legend tragically left this earth, athletes like Edwards continue to breathe life into his legacy by putting his principles into action.
