The Los Angeles Lakers paid the ultimate respect to retired All-Star big man Pau Gasol by retiring the No. 16 jersey he wore during his time with the franchise. The jersey retirement ceremony was held on Tuesday night during the halftime of the Lakers’ 112-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies game was the obvious choice considering this was the franchise from which Gasol joined the Lakers in 2008. He would go on to win back-to-back NBA titles in Los Angeles alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant.

Gasol is the 12th Lakers player who had his jersey retired, joining the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Bryant.

“I mean life goes by pretty fast, right? In the blink of an eye, you can be a kid playing basketball in your school with your buddies, then all of a sudden, you’re realizing your dream,” Gasol said at the ceremony.. “But tonight, it really exceeds any dream or expectation that I’ve had because it means so much. And obviously with Kobe up there, it just adds something meaningful and powerful, and sad and happy, and painful and joyful.”

Pau Gasol started his NBA career with the Grizzlies, where he established himself as an All-Star and one of the most-skilled big men in the NBA. Upon joining the Lakers in a blockbuster trade that also included his younger brother Marc heading to Memphis, Gasol further elevated his game while being the second most important player during championship runs in 2009 and 2010.

Gasol left the Lakers ahead of the 2014-15 NBA season to join the Chicago Bulls and later also played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks. He retired in 2021 after playing one season with his boyhood club Barcelona.

The post Pau Gasol Has His No. 16 Jersey Retired By the Lakers 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.

Despite not having played in an NBA game since March 2019, legendary big man Pau Gasol expressed a desire in an interview with ESPN’s Zach Lowe to return to the league, possibly for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gasol, whose best years were spent as the main piece in the Lakers’ frontcourt where he won two championships in 2009 and 2010, said that he is working out in an attempt to sign with the team.

The Spanish big man’s last appearance was in 2019 for the Milwaukee Bucks. After falling victim to a foot injury in March, he then missed the rest of the season. He had only played three games that season before the injury.

Gasol hasn’t played regularly since the 2017-18 season for the San Antonio Spurs, and might be a long shot to make it back to the league at the age of 40.

However, Gasol’s desire appears to be genuine and he would especially like a chance to play with his brother for the first time on a Lakers team that will head into the season as favorites to repeat as NBA champions.

The big man said, “I’m not going to lie. It would be very special, and now that my brother’s there, even more special. But I’m not in a position now to be very demanding. I don’t have 10 offers on the table.”

Gasol will look for an opportunity over the coming weeks to return to the league, even if it means waiting past its December 22nd start date for that chance to come.

The post Pau Gasol Expresses Desire to Return to Lakers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol hasn’t played basketball for more than a year, but the 39-year-old Spanish center isn’t thinking about retirement just yet. In a recent chat with Spanish media, Gasol said that he would like to play one more season, either with the Los Angeles Lakers or Barcelona.

Gasol suffered a season-ending foot injury back in March 2019 and has been out of action ever since. He attempted a comeback with Portland Trail Blazers in November but ended up leaving the franchise without making a single appearance.

Still, Gasol isn’t ready to walk from basketball as he’s hoping to be part of Spain’s basketball team at the Olympics in Tokyo next year. And in order to do so, he wants to play one additional season at a high level.

“My intention is to play another season if the foot is OK, either in the NBA or in Europe,” said Gasol. “A final season with the Lakers is attractive, finishing at Barca is attractive, but you have to see the real possibilities and see what situation would be best for the circumstances of the moment.”

However, Gasol’s plans might change in the future, depending on how his foot recovers. 

“When I can start running and jumping I will have a lot more information to know for sure if the foot and the bone are consolidated for me to be playing professional basketball again,” he added.

Gasol spent 19 seasons in the NBA so far, playing with Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs among other teams. In addition to winning two NBA titles with Lakers, he has six All-Star appearances and has made the All-NBA team four times.

The post Pau Gasol Wants to Play One More Season with Lakers or Barca appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former All-Star Pau Gasol won’t be making his Portland Trail Blazers debut anytime soon. Trail Blazers announced on Wednesday that they have released Gasol as his recovery from foot surgery continues to prevent him from getting back on the court.

Gasol signed with the Trail Blazers on a one-year deal in the summer, but there was a clause that allowed the team to terminate the contract if his recovery lasts longer than expected.  The 39-year-old Spaniard, however, will remain with the organization. According to reports, the two sides are currently discussing a coaching role for the player as he continues his rehabilitation.

“As of today, I will no longer be a member of the Portland Trail Blazers players roster,” – said Gasol in a video posted on his social media. “The injury that I’ve been dealing with and for which I underwent surgery last May can take anywhere from six to 12 months to heal completely.”

“I underwent surgery in hopes that it would expedite my return. But unfortunately in the last few days we have assessed that my recovery is going to take longer than originally hoped for” – he added.

After agreeing on a buyout with San Antonio Spurs in March, Pau Gasol signed a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. However, he only managed to play three games before going down with a foot injury. Gasol averaged career-low all across the board last season, having 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

During his 18 years in the league, Gasol made six All-Star appearances and has won two NBA titles. Over the course of his NBA career, he averaged 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.

The post Trail Blazers Release Pau Gasol as Two Sides Discuss Coaching Role appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Despite the offers from Europe, veteran center Pau Gasol is staying in the NBA for at least one more year. Gasol announced on social media on Thursday that he has agreed to deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Gasol, who reportedly signed a one-year contract, tweeted a photo of himself in Blazers’ jersey, writing that he is “happy to join one of the best teams in the league!”

Shortly after, Portland also confirmed the agreement with the Spaniard.

“Pau is a future Hall of Famer that brings invaluable championship experience and an elite skill set and basketball IQ to our roster,” – said Blazers’ president of basketball operations Neil Olshey in a statement.

Portland Trail Blazers have tried to sign Pau Gasol when he was a free agent back in 2016, offering him a two-year, $40 million deal. Gasol, however, decided to sign with a San Antonio Spurs for less money in order to continue competing for championships.

Gasol started the last season with the Spurs but ended up accepting a buyout agreement in March after becoming unhappy with his role on the team. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks shortly after, but only managed to play three games with the team before being ruled out for the rest of the season due to a foot injury.

The post Pau Gasol Agrees to a 1-Year Deal with the Trail Blazers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Milwaukee Bucks will have to continue their road to NBA Finals without veteran center Pau Gasol. The team announced on Friday that Gasol underwent a foot surgery that will make him miss the rest of the Bucks’ playoff run. 

“Milwaukee Bucks center Pau Gasol underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a navicular stress fracture in his left foot.” –said the Bucks in an official press release. “The surgery was performed in Green Bay, Wis., by Dr. Robert Anderson with oversight by Bucks team physician Dr. William Raasch of the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin health network. Gasol will miss the remainder of the Playoffs and a full recovery is expected in time for training camp.”

Milwaukee signed Gasol in March after the player reached a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs. The Bucks hoped that his playoff experience and veteran leadership could be useful to their young team in the postseason. Things, however, didn’t exactly turn out that way.

 Since coming to Milwaukee, Pau Gasol only played three games for the Bucks, averaging 1.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, before going down with an ankle injury. Although Bucks Gasol to return in time for playoffs, that didn’t happen and the team will now have to finish the job without him.

Gasol struggled with injuries throughout the entire season, missing a total 26 games while with the Spurs. This greatly affected his performance as he averaged career lows all over the board including 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

The post Bucks’ Pau Gasol Undergoes a Foot Surgery, Will Miss the Rest of the Playoffs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After spending the past few years with the San Antonio Spurs, who bought out his contract over the weekend, Pau Gasol is heading to the Bucks. The Spanish center signed a deal to join the Bucks for the rest of the season on Sunday.

Milwaukee adds a veteran center with ample playoff experience and two NBA titles under his belt with this signing.

Gasol, who is now 38 years old and in his 18th NBA season, averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds as a game with the Spurs during the last three seasons:

The 7-footer won’t be expected to start or to play a major role in Milwaukee’s rotation, but the team’s brass hopes that he will contribute valuable leadership to a young squad.

This season could be Gasol’s last, so he will be motivated to propel Milwaukee to an NBA title. The Bucks are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference.

The future Hall of Famer previously won two titles as the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting center.

The post Pau Gasol, Bucks Agree to Deal 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.

The Los Angeles Lakers paid the ultimate respect to retired All-Star big man Pau Gasol by retiring the No. 16 jersey he wore during his time with the franchise. The jersey retirement ceremony was held on Tuesday night during the halftime of the Lakers’ 112-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies game was the obvious choice considering this was the franchise from which Gasol joined the Lakers in 2008. He would go on to win back-to-back NBA titles in Los Angeles alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant.

Gasol is the 12th Lakers player who had his jersey retired, joining the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Bryant.

“I mean life goes by pretty fast, right? In the blink of an eye, you can be a kid playing basketball in your school with your buddies, then all of a sudden, you’re realizing your dream,” Gasol said at the ceremony.. “But tonight, it really exceeds any dream or expectation that I’ve had because it means so much. And obviously with Kobe up there, it just adds something meaningful and powerful, and sad and happy, and painful and joyful.”

Pau Gasol started his NBA career with the Grizzlies, where he established himself as an All-Star and one of the most-skilled big men in the NBA. Upon joining the Lakers in a blockbuster trade that also included his younger brother Marc heading to Memphis, Gasol further elevated his game while being the second most important player during championship runs in 2009 and 2010.

Gasol left the Lakers ahead of the 2014-15 NBA season to join the Chicago Bulls and later also played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks. He retired in 2021 after playing one season with his boyhood club Barcelona.

The post Pau Gasol Has His No. 16 Jersey Retired By the Lakers 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.

Despite not having played in an NBA game since March 2019, legendary big man Pau Gasol expressed a desire in an interview with ESPN’s Zach Lowe to return to the league, possibly for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gasol, whose best years were spent as the main piece in the Lakers’ frontcourt where he won two championships in 2009 and 2010, said that he is working out in an attempt to sign with the team.

The Spanish big man’s last appearance was in 2019 for the Milwaukee Bucks. After falling victim to a foot injury in March, he then missed the rest of the season. He had only played three games that season before the injury.

Gasol hasn’t played regularly since the 2017-18 season for the San Antonio Spurs, and might be a long shot to make it back to the league at the age of 40.

However, Gasol’s desire appears to be genuine and he would especially like a chance to play with his brother for the first time on a Lakers team that will head into the season as favorites to repeat as NBA champions.

The big man said, “I’m not going to lie. It would be very special, and now that my brother’s there, even more special. But I’m not in a position now to be very demanding. I don’t have 10 offers on the table.”

Gasol will look for an opportunity over the coming weeks to return to the league, even if it means waiting past its December 22nd start date for that chance to come.

The post Pau Gasol Expresses Desire to Return to Lakers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol hasn’t played basketball for more than a year, but the 39-year-old Spanish center isn’t thinking about retirement just yet. In a recent chat with Spanish media, Gasol said that he would like to play one more season, either with the Los Angeles Lakers or Barcelona.

Gasol suffered a season-ending foot injury back in March 2019 and has been out of action ever since. He attempted a comeback with Portland Trail Blazers in November but ended up leaving the franchise without making a single appearance.

Still, Gasol isn’t ready to walk from basketball as he’s hoping to be part of Spain’s basketball team at the Olympics in Tokyo next year. And in order to do so, he wants to play one additional season at a high level.

“My intention is to play another season if the foot is OK, either in the NBA or in Europe,” said Gasol. “A final season with the Lakers is attractive, finishing at Barca is attractive, but you have to see the real possibilities and see what situation would be best for the circumstances of the moment.”

However, Gasol’s plans might change in the future, depending on how his foot recovers. 

“When I can start running and jumping I will have a lot more information to know for sure if the foot and the bone are consolidated for me to be playing professional basketball again,” he added.

Gasol spent 19 seasons in the NBA so far, playing with Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs among other teams. In addition to winning two NBA titles with Lakers, he has six All-Star appearances and has made the All-NBA team four times.

The post Pau Gasol Wants to Play One More Season with Lakers or Barca appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former All-Star Pau Gasol won’t be making his Portland Trail Blazers debut anytime soon. Trail Blazers announced on Wednesday that they have released Gasol as his recovery from foot surgery continues to prevent him from getting back on the court.

Gasol signed with the Trail Blazers on a one-year deal in the summer, but there was a clause that allowed the team to terminate the contract if his recovery lasts longer than expected.  The 39-year-old Spaniard, however, will remain with the organization. According to reports, the two sides are currently discussing a coaching role for the player as he continues his rehabilitation.

“As of today, I will no longer be a member of the Portland Trail Blazers players roster,” – said Gasol in a video posted on his social media. “The injury that I’ve been dealing with and for which I underwent surgery last May can take anywhere from six to 12 months to heal completely.”

“I underwent surgery in hopes that it would expedite my return. But unfortunately in the last few days we have assessed that my recovery is going to take longer than originally hoped for” – he added.

After agreeing on a buyout with San Antonio Spurs in March, Pau Gasol signed a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. However, he only managed to play three games before going down with a foot injury. Gasol averaged career-low all across the board last season, having 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

During his 18 years in the league, Gasol made six All-Star appearances and has won two NBA titles. Over the course of his NBA career, he averaged 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.

The post Trail Blazers Release Pau Gasol as Two Sides Discuss Coaching Role appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Despite the offers from Europe, veteran center Pau Gasol is staying in the NBA for at least one more year. Gasol announced on social media on Thursday that he has agreed to deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Gasol, who reportedly signed a one-year contract, tweeted a photo of himself in Blazers’ jersey, writing that he is “happy to join one of the best teams in the league!”

Shortly after, Portland also confirmed the agreement with the Spaniard.

“Pau is a future Hall of Famer that brings invaluable championship experience and an elite skill set and basketball IQ to our roster,” – said Blazers’ president of basketball operations Neil Olshey in a statement.

Portland Trail Blazers have tried to sign Pau Gasol when he was a free agent back in 2016, offering him a two-year, $40 million deal. Gasol, however, decided to sign with a San Antonio Spurs for less money in order to continue competing for championships.

Gasol started the last season with the Spurs but ended up accepting a buyout agreement in March after becoming unhappy with his role on the team. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks shortly after, but only managed to play three games with the team before being ruled out for the rest of the season due to a foot injury.

The post Pau Gasol Agrees to a 1-Year Deal with the Trail Blazers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Milwaukee Bucks will have to continue their road to NBA Finals without veteran center Pau Gasol. The team announced on Friday that Gasol underwent a foot surgery that will make him miss the rest of the Bucks’ playoff run. 

“Milwaukee Bucks center Pau Gasol underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a navicular stress fracture in his left foot.” –said the Bucks in an official press release. “The surgery was performed in Green Bay, Wis., by Dr. Robert Anderson with oversight by Bucks team physician Dr. William Raasch of the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin health network. Gasol will miss the remainder of the Playoffs and a full recovery is expected in time for training camp.”

Milwaukee signed Gasol in March after the player reached a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs. The Bucks hoped that his playoff experience and veteran leadership could be useful to their young team in the postseason. Things, however, didn’t exactly turn out that way.

 Since coming to Milwaukee, Pau Gasol only played three games for the Bucks, averaging 1.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, before going down with an ankle injury. Although Bucks Gasol to return in time for playoffs, that didn’t happen and the team will now have to finish the job without him.

Gasol struggled with injuries throughout the entire season, missing a total 26 games while with the Spurs. This greatly affected his performance as he averaged career lows all over the board including 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

The post Bucks’ Pau Gasol Undergoes a Foot Surgery, Will Miss the Rest of the Playoffs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After spending the past few years with the San Antonio Spurs, who bought out his contract over the weekend, Pau Gasol is heading to the Bucks. The Spanish center signed a deal to join the Bucks for the rest of the season on Sunday.

Milwaukee adds a veteran center with ample playoff experience and two NBA titles under his belt with this signing.

Gasol, who is now 38 years old and in his 18th NBA season, averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds as a game with the Spurs during the last three seasons:

The 7-footer won’t be expected to start or to play a major role in Milwaukee’s rotation, but the team’s brass hopes that he will contribute valuable leadership to a young squad.

This season could be Gasol’s last, so he will be motivated to propel Milwaukee to an NBA title. The Bucks are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference.

The future Hall of Famer previously won two titles as the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting center.

The post Pau Gasol, Bucks Agree to Deal 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.