Gary Vitti shuts down the narrative of Pau Gasol being a soft big man because of Kobe: "He was a finesse player"

Whenever discussions arise about the most dominant big men who have represented the Los Angeles Lakers, names like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard typically dominate the conversation, as all three of these centers were known for their overwhelming physical presence. In contrast, Pau Gasol is often placed in a different category. Many believed that, despite being seven feet tall, the Spaniard never leveraged his height to play bully ball in the paint.

However, former Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti recently refuted that perception, noting how Pau was much stronger than he is ever given credit for - a reality that perhaps even Kobe Bryant came to terms with.

Vitti on just how strong Gasol was

During his appearance on Byron Scott's "Fast Break" podcast, Vitti emphasized that Gasol's performance during his first four seasons in Los Angeles, where he averaged 18.7 points per game, merited plenty of appreciation. Unlike other centers of that era, Gasol's approach was never to form his game solely around brute strength; rather, he used finesse, utilizing his footwork and ability to score through both hands as his weapons.

Put simply, Gasol understood his strengths and remained committed to operating in the low post, choosing not to experiment on the court unnecessarily. Thus, he used all possible angles under the basket to ensure a way to score.

Because of his style, even Kobe, who had initially revealed his desire to never play with another dominant big man after Shaq, to Vitti, soon admitted that Gasol was a different big man who wasn't just skilled but even exceptionally strong.

"Pau had this reputation of being "soft." Pau was not soft, trust me. It was a style of play that he was a finesse player. Pau Gasol was one of the most talented low-post players that I had ever seen play the game. He could play from either side of the basket - he could use his left hand, right hand, his back to the basket, great passer, great vision, great understanding of the game - Kobe realized it," Vitti said. "Kobe told me at one point, after Shaq, 'I don't want to play with a dominant big man.' Then, he realized after Shaq left, I need that."

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Pau is highly underrated

Part of this misinterpretation surrounding Gasol stems from how the media portrayed him during his peak. He was not described as a physically overwhelming force or as a perennial MVP candidate like some of the other centers who had led the franchise. However, the six-time All-Star possessed a clear understanding of what was expected of him and, importantly, a strong awareness of Kobe's leadership approach. He never attempted to establish himself as the alpha of the team. Instead, he embraced his complementary role and focused on enhancing the team's cohesion.

So, it was only because of his selflessness and adaptability that the Lakers reached three consecutive NBA Finals and secured two championships. Most do recognize and praise Phil Jackson and Kobe for their heroics during that brief three-year span; truth be told, if it weren't for Pau, who knows if the Purple and Gold could have even attained that glory.

Related: "From that day on, I was done dealing with Kobe" - Shaquille O'Neal admits he never wanted to have a truce with Kobe

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.