The two-time LA champ should be headed to Springfield this year!
Los Angeles Lakers legend Pau Gasol is having quite the 2023. On March 7th, he is set to have his iconic No. 16 Lakers jersey retired in a ceremony at Crypto.com Arena. And now, the Basketball Hall of Fame has announced that Gasol is a finalist for inclusion into this year’s class.
Gasol was a six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA Team honoree during a 21-year pro career, that included 18 NBA seasons. He was traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to your Lakers at the 2008 deadline by then-LA GM Mitch Kupchak. Linking up with All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant, and star big men Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, Gasol’s addition instantly transformed the Lakers into legitimate title contenders. The team finished with a 57-25 record and made it all the way to the 2008 NBA Finals, falling in six to the star-studded Boston Celtics. Bryant was named the 2008 MVP.
LA subsequently went on to appear in two more consecutive NBA Finals series from 2009-2010, winning both. Gasol lingered with Los Angeles through the 2013-14 season, before hopping off to join the Chicago Bulls.
The seven-footer out of Spain holds career averages of 17 points on .507/.368/.753, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per regular season game, and is generally considered to be one of the best international players in the history of the league.
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