Six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol is officially done with playing basketball on a professional level. Gasol confirmed his retirement on Tuesday, bringing to an end a successful career that lasted for more than two decades.
Gasol most recently played with Barcelona in his native Spain, but injuries limited him to just 15 games in 2021. His last NBA stop was the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played a portion of the 2018-19 season.
Gasol’s retirement was announced at a ceremony held in one Barcelona opera house with his family and former teammates in attendance.
“I’m going to retire from professional basketball,” Gasol said. “It’s a difficult decision after so many years, but it’s a decision that I really thought over.”
Pau Gasol started his professional career with Barcelona, making his senior debut in 1998. He was drafted to the NBA in 2001 with the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks, but ended up being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies shortly after. Gasol immediately became the face of the Grizzlies franchise and developed into a perennial All-Star before moving on to the Los Angeles Lakers in an attempt to win an NBA championship.
In Los Angeles, Gasol teamed up with the legendary Kobe Bryant and achieved his goal by winning two NBA titles. He spent six and a half seasons with the Lakers and also earned three All-Star nods during his time with the franchise.
Gasol also played for the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. He has NBA career averages of 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game.
