Inside Basketball Player Pau Gasol’s Relationship with Kobe Bryant and the Late Athlete's Family

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol

Kobe Bryant and former teammate Pau Gasol formed an especially close relationship during their time on the Los Angeles Lakers, and their bond remained strong long after they played their final game together.

Since Kobe's untimely death in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash that also killed his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, 40-year-old Spanish basketball player Gasol has been a source of emotional support for Kobe's wife, Vanessa, and their three daughters, Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 14-month-old Capri.

From surprising them with flowers and gifts to enjoying a trip together to the San Francisco Bay Area in August, Gasol and his wife, Catherine McDonnell, have done their best to stand by the Bryants in the months since the accident. But in one of their most touching gestures yet, Gasol and McDonnell recently named their newborn "Elisabet Gianna Gasol" in memory of Kobe's late daughter.

The bond between the two families began in 2008 when Gasol was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to Los Angeles. At the time, Kobe had grown dissatisfied with the Lakers, who had not returned to championship contention since losing to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals. It was later revealed Kobe even demanded a trade from Los Angeles the year before, with his first choice being the Chicago Bulls — the former home of his idol, Michael Jordan.

But the Lakers then secured Gasol from the Grizzlies. Gasol gave Kobe the supporting costar he needed.

RELATED: Pau Gasol Recalls the Moment He First Heard About Kobe Byrant's Death: ‘I Started Crying'

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol

After Gasol made his debut with the Lakers in a 105-90 defeat of the New Jersey Nets, Kobe famously proclaimed "There is a God, there is a God," in a post-game interview.

The seven-foot-tall athlete made the Lakers instant contenders for the championship and helped to lead them to an NBA finals appearance later that season.

RELATED: Pau Gasol Welcomes First Child with Wife Catherine McDonnell, Names Daughter After Gianna Bryant