After putting Pau Gasol on blast Monday telling the media that he needs to put his big boy pants on, Kobe now offered his strongest public support to date backing Gasol.

Check out what he told reporters yesterday…

GameTimeGirl

Via Ramona Shelburne at ESPN:

“I love Pau like a brother,” Bryant told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Tuesday. “I really do. I want him to dominate like I know he can.”

“I want him to dig in and be determined, not discouraged,” Bryant continued. “We should go to him more on the post because he can dominate from there as he has to the tune of two rings. I’m sure we will adjust and figure out a balance when he comes back healthy.”

Bryant and Gasol had a lengthy summit Monday night at the team hotel in Houston.

“I know his knees have been hurting and that can be frustrating because you can’t do physically what you are used to,” Bryant said Tuesday. “I just don’t want him to sulk about the change of things.”