A Lakers legend, Pau Gasol will join these icons in the Hall of Fame

Former Los Angeles Lakers star big man Pau Gasol has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023; it was announced at the NCAA Final Four on Saturday morning.

Joining Gasol in one of the most star-studded Hall of Fame classes ever will be Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, a pair of San Antonio Spurs legends in head coach Gregg Popovich and point guard Tony Parker and WNBA legend Becky Hammon.

It has been a great year so far for the Lakers legend as he has recently won in the NBA All-Star Rising Stars game as a coach, received the Kobe & Gigi WNBA Advocacy award, and got his jersey No. 16 retired with purple and gold; it's officially a new Hall of Famer.

Kobe Bryant would be proud of his close friend and former teammate who will be joining him on that honor, besides getting both players their jersey numbers retired with the purple and gold.

Pau Gasol will be joining the 27 HoF Lakers players

Gasol is not the first Lakers player to be getting the honor of joining the Hall of Fame; he will be joining the 27 Lakers players with that honor. Some names include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, his late close friend, teammate Kobe Bryant and much more.