When did Pau Gasol Retire?
Following his retirement, the 6-time NBA All-Star saw his iconic No 16 jersey being hung up in recognition by the Lakers. But when did Pau Gasol retire?
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With a stellar career in the NBA and a gilded international trophy cabinet, Pau Gasol is beyond doubt an all-time great. Having won two back-to-back Championships for the Los Angeles Lakers, the genteel big man is a beloved NBA legend.
A FIBA World Cup title, 3 Olympic medals, and 3 EuroBaskets – Gasol has won it all with his national team. Loved and revered by basketball fans across the globe, the 7-footer from Barcelona is regarded as one of the best European players ever. Almost poetic that Gasol’s glorious career was meant to end right where it all started, FC Barcelona.
Following his retirement, the 6-time NBA All-Star saw his iconic No 16 jersey being hung up in recognition by the Lakers. When did Paul Gasol retire?
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When did Pau Gasol make his Debut?
Pau Gasol made his Senior career debut with Barcelona on January 17, 1999. Prior to that, he had already won the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in 1998 and the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship.
With Barcelona, Gasol won the Spanish National Cup in 2001 and also became the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Following that, the 7-footer got selected third overall in the first round of the NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks in 2001. Eventually, they traded his draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Pau Gasol was named Rookie of the Year in 2002, becoming the first non-American player to have won the honor. Throughout his stellar NBA career, Gasol played for the Memphis Grizzlies (2001-2008), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-2014), Chicago Bulls (2014-2016), San Antonio Spurs (2016-2019), and the Milwaukee Bucks (2019).
Pau Gasol won two NBA Championships with the LA Lakers in 2009 and 2010. Evidently, Gasol’s time at the Lakers was one of his career-best where the power forward dominated the courts in purple and gold.
He partnered up with Kobe Bryant as an instrumental part of the team, leading them to the ultimate glory. The on and off-court camaraderie was a boon for the Lakers as the duo smashed opponents left, right, and center. Gasol is considered to be one of the greatest power forwards of his generation to have played in the NBA.
A Gilded International Career
Pau Gasol has had one of the most successful international careers in history that boasts a FIBA World Cup Title, 3 EuroBaskets, and 3 Olympic medals. Gasol was named the FIBA World Cup MVP in 2006 as Spain lifted the title.
The Spanish legend also holds the record for most EuroBasket MVPs. Gasol won three EuroBasket titles with Spain in 2009, 2011, and 2015 where he was MVP in the 2009 and 2015 tournaments. He had also been the leading scorer in three EuroBasket tournaments. Although he won three Olympic medals for Spain, the Olympic gold is something the legend has missed out.
Return to Barcelona
After his time in the NBA, Gasol returned to his boyhood club FC Barcelona on February 23, 2021. His dream of returning to the very team where his senior professional career started is almost poetic. Eventually, he won the 2020–21 ACB championship and helped his team reach the 2020–21 EuroLeague Finals.
Pau Gasol had an amazing second stint with Barcelona, where he was adored by the fans. Nevertheless, Gasol’s first stint with his boyhood club was no less impressive. The 7-foot-1 power forward closed his trophy cabinet with the Spanish Championship, the same title he won back in 2001. A glorious 20 years had transpired in the middle, a history emblazoned across NBA pages.
When did Pau Gasol Retire?
Pau Gasol announced his official retirement from professional basketball on October 5, 2021. Later the same year, he became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and continues to be associated with basketball.
Besides his professional basketball career, he holds a keen interest in a variety of fields, including the Arts and, surprisingly, medicine. Originally, Gasol had joined the medical school to pursue a career in medicine but discontinued as his career at FC Barcelona advanced.
On March 7, 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers retired his iconic No 16 jersey to honor his legacy in gold and purple. Gasol’s No 16 is one of only twelve jersey numbers that has been retired by the LA Lakers to date.
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Anjum Ash.
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