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.

The post Pau Gasol Officially Announces His Retirement from Basketball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Things didn’t go as planned for San Antonio Spurs’ Pau Gasol this season. After he spent the better part of the season struggling with injuries, he was forced to embrace the less prominent role on the team upon recovery. This situation didn’t sit well with the 38-year-old Spanish center, and he ended up making a trade request to the Spurs. At least, that’s what ESPN Deportes and several other media reported in the recent days.

Gasol, on the other hand, offers a different side of the story and denies asking the San Antonio to move him.

“What’s the source? What’s the validity of that story? I don’t know,” – said Gasol when asked about the trade request. “I didn’t request to be traded. I don’t want to comment on it because it is what it is. I think people understand or can figure out my situation on the team is not what was expected from me, and my only wish and desire is to be able to contribute to the team, and be able to be on the floor and do what I’m supposed to do, and do what I signed here to do, and kind of live up to what I’m paid for. That’s all. I’m waiting and hoping that that will happen. I’m staying positive.”

Pau Gasol joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2016, and managed to provide valuable veteran contribution during his time with the franchise. This season, however, he is averaging career lows in almost all statistical categories including minutes (12.5), points (4.4), rebounds (4.7) and assists (1.9).

The post Spurs’ Pau Gasol Denies Trade Request appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post Pau Gasol Officially Announces His Retirement from Basketball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Things didn’t go as planned for San Antonio Spurs’ Pau Gasol this season. After he spent the better part of the season struggling with injuries, he was forced to embrace the less prominent role on the team upon recovery. This situation didn’t sit well with the 38-year-old Spanish center, and he ended up making a trade request to the Spurs. At least, that’s what ESPN Deportes and several other media reported in the recent days.

Gasol, on the other hand, offers a different side of the story and denies asking the San Antonio to move him.

“What’s the source? What’s the validity of that story? I don’t know,” – said Gasol when asked about the trade request. “I didn’t request to be traded. I don’t want to comment on it because it is what it is. I think people understand or can figure out my situation on the team is not what was expected from me, and my only wish and desire is to be able to contribute to the team, and be able to be on the floor and do what I’m supposed to do, and do what I signed here to do, and kind of live up to what I’m paid for. That’s all. I’m waiting and hoping that that will happen. I’m staying positive.”

Pau Gasol joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2016, and managed to provide valuable veteran contribution during his time with the franchise. This season, however, he is averaging career lows in almost all statistical categories including minutes (12.5), points (4.4), rebounds (4.7) and assists (1.9).

The post Spurs’ Pau Gasol Denies Trade Request appeared first on SportzBonanza.