EThis Tuesday, starting at 5:00 p.m., Pau Gasol reveal his future. The pvot summoned the media to an event that will take place in the Gran Teatro del Liceo de Barcelona, a stage at the height of a colossal race full of milestones among which it is difficult to choose only 16, the number with which it has always been identified.
1. A golden junior
In 1998, the junior Spanish team she had been proclaimed champion of Europe. A preview of what will come next. The following year, In the World Cup held in Lisbon, he knocked the United States out in the final (94-87) illuminating the best generation of Spanish basketball players: they were born the golden juniors. There was Pau Gasol, in a secondary role, in the shadow of Juan Carlos Navarro (27 points), Ral Lpez (13) and Germn Gabriel (17), leaders of that team. The tall lad from Sant Boi He was going slower than his colleagues, but he was showing something special. Then no one would have guessed a future so splendid like the one that awaited you.
2. Explosion in the 2001 Cup
Pau debuted in the ACB in January 1999. He barely had 29 seconds in a defeat by Only against Cceres (92-78). His explosion occurred in the King’s Cup of Malaga in 2001. The pvot took the Barça team to the title with a demonstration of versatility and resources as had not been seen in Espaa. I finished with 25 points that knocked down the Real Madrid (80-77). Was the MVP of the tournament. Months later, repeated award and success in the final of the ACB, which the culs resolved against the whites in three games on the back of their young prodigy.
3. Nmero 3 del draft
“With the third pick in the 2001 draft, the Atlanta Hawks elect Pau Gasol, from FC Barcelona, Espaa“With those words of the commissioner Star of david the career of the pvot in the NBA began on June 27, 2001. He put on a cap from his new team, took the stage, clapped his hands, and shook hands with the NBA’s top manager. Later he was transferred to the Grizzlies. By then, it was the European selected in a higher position.
4. Debuts with the national team
Pau could have debuted in the Sydney Games in 2000, but Lolo sainz, coach at the time, opted for the veteran of Johnny Rogers. The following year, Javier Imbroda I recruited him for him Eurobasket 2001. They made their debut with Spain on August 15 of that year in a friendly against Greece on San fernando. Marc territory with 20 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes in an 84-79 win. In the continental tournament he led the team to bronze. In the fight for him he had a sensational confrontation with Dirk Nowitzki. The German won the individual duel, but the Spaniard finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds and Spain won 99-90.
5. His debut in the NBA
On November 1, 2001, Pau made his debut in the NBA. The pvot had reached the moon. The second Spanish player in the best basketball league in the world after Fernando Martn. He was a substitute, he had 17:20 minutes, his first basket was a mate and he finished with four points and four rebounds. The Grizzlies lost 80-90 to the Pistons in The Pyramid. The result was not the most important thing. Gasol was chosen rookie of the year with 17.6 points and 8.9 rebounds on average. And that same campaign played in front of Michael Jordan, his great fraud.
6. Countryman of the World
Spain reached the summit in 2006 World Cup, the greatest milestone of our basketball. It was the perfect tournament until Pau he injured his foot. He will lose the final, but his teammates will win for him. The wounded hero enjoyed from the bench the deed of his friends in the final against Greece (70-47). Such was the importance of the pvot I received the championship MVP without having to dispute the match for the gold. And, by mistake, he even raised the trophy without it being due, since the captain was Carlos Jimnez. Was the first tournament in which the Gasol brothers coincided in the selection.
7. Signing for the Lakers
On February 1, 2008, Pau Gasol is traded by the Grizzlies. His destiny, the Lakers, one of the most powerful teams in the NBA, with whom you can fight for the championship ring. There awaits you Kobe Bryant, which has given the OK to its incorporation. Their connection is immediate and they will end up being great friends. The Spaniard makes his debut with Los Angeles in a win against Los Nets by 90-105. he does 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Its premiere is news on the posters of Time Square.
8. The two Olympic silvers
Pekn lived what is considered the best olympic final ever. Pau was there, talking to USA with the national team, which ended up losing by 107-118, but put a Dream Team that it did live up to that name. The pvot signed 21 points and six rebounds in a duel against his peers, the stars of the NBA. Four years later, he served as Spanish flag bearer in London. Then history repeated itself. Spain was even closer to gold than in the previous edition (100-107) by score and sensations. Pau supported the selection and finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. At the conclusion of the final, the coach Mike Krzyzewski and all the players of the American team, starting with his friend Kobe, came to greet you as a sign of appreciation.
9. His two NBA rings
Pau Gasol rose to the top of the NBA on June 14, 2009, when the Lakers beat the Magic in Game 5 of the final and took the ring of champions. The Spanish, before the colossal Dwight Howard, had averages of 18.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in that series. He was Kobe’s best squire. The following year, the Angelenos repeated their title after winning the Celtics in seven encounters. Pau better its benefits compared to the previous year: 18.6 + 11.6. He even flirted with being MVP of the final.
10. Finally king of Europe
In 2009, Spain achieved the European championship how much he had resisted. It was the first tournament with Sergio Scariolo and, despite the doubts at the beginning, the selection ended like a shot: +20 to France in the quarterfinals, +22 to Greece in the semifinals and +18 to Serbia in the end. Pau ended up being the MVP with averages of 18.6 points and 8.3 rebounds.
11. All Star Brothers Jump
Throughout his NBA career, Pau has played seis All Star: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016. None as special as that of New York in 2015. There he starred in the initial jump with Marc. An iconic image that showed the great level of the brothers, but also of Spanish basketball. They had reached much higher than the ball they fought for.
12. The game of his life
At Eurobasket 2015, Pau took revenge for the defeat in the World Cup last year against France. The pvot had the best game of his life in the semifinal against the Gauls. It was in Little, in a packed stadium with 25,000 fans eager to see their team reach the final. What they saw was one of the most memorable performances that are remembered in European basketball. In an overtime game, Gasol finished with 40 points, his highest score with the national team. He added 11 rebounds and added 52 valuation. Spain won 80-75 and will end up taking the gold against Lithuania. And Pau, of course, was MVP.
13. last game in the NBA
After numerous physical problems, Pau plays his last game in the NBA on March 10, 2019. Enrolled in the Bucks, disputes almost a quarter of an hour before the Spurs and adds three points and three rebounds. An injury to his left foot will prevent him from returning. Sign for the Blazers, although not getting to debut. In his career in the best league in the world he has added 1,226 games, 20,894 points, 11,305 rebounds, 3,925 assists and 1,941 blocks. It’s NBA history.
14. Back to Barcelona
In March of this year, after numerous rumors, it was confirmed the return of Pau Gasol to Barcelona. His intention, after two years without playing, is to get in tune so he can participate in the Tokyo Games. In the Endesa League it marks differences in a few minutes and help get the title. In the Euroleague, more physically fair, Barcelona fell in the final against Anadolu Efes and he he runs out of the only great title that remained.
15 Challenge Met in Tokyo
In one of the most ambitious challenges of his career, he made a Herculean effort to get back on the slopes after two years standing. He fulfilled his dream of reaching the Tokyo Games, his fifth Olympic event since making his debut in Athens 2004, but rushed out of the quarterfinals after losing to the United States. That was on August 3. To date it is his last game.
16. And today?
This afternoon, 5:00 p.m. Pau Gasol has summoned the media at the Gran Teatro del Liceo in Barcelona to announce what your future will be.