Kobe Bryant's work ethic and killer instinct were second to none. His desire to win at all cost and focus to win in every game made him one of the best players to ever step on the NBA hardwood. Naturally, the late NBA icon tried his best to rub it off onto his Los Angeles Lakers teammates, including Pau Gasol.

In his latest appearance on The Old Man & The Three podcast, Gasol opened up about how Bryant kept him focused during games when they were playing together in LA. Interestingly, Kobe did not need to say any word to get Gasol from being the usually sharp player he was. Just one look from the Mamba was enough.

Gasol, for his part, knows THAT look when he sees it and what he needed to do after that.

“At some point if I would falter or he could sense that I was not at that sharp, all-in type of moment pre-game, he would look at me like, ‘Hey [while doing the Kobe Bryant stare/look], ready? Let's go, okay? It's go time.” Gasol shared.

Pau Gasol played alongside Kobe Bryant on the Lakers for six and half seasons, winning two NBA championships in the process. They were one of the deadliest duos in the NBA in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and they developed such chemistry that made them a lethal combo.

Even when Gasol left the Lakers, he and Kobe stayed friends and shared that brotherhood connection.

Aside from their chemistry and deep understanding of each other, Gasol also talked about Kobe's mentality and how he showed it to him right from the start. Apparently, right in his first night with the Lakers, Bryant visited Gasol in his hotel room to deliver one message: it's time to win a championship.

“…Once I got to the room and texted him … He came up and from the very beginning, he’s like: ‘Look, I’m very happy that you’re here. Let’s acknowledge that. I’m very happy–very excited that you're here. But now let’s go fucking win–let's go win a title,” Gasol shared in the same podcast.

Gasol and Kobe had one of the best relationships in the NBA, and one could only hope they got to play longer with the Lakers.