All good things come to an end. Sadly, that’s especially true in sports, as Father Time is undefeated.
That’s why Pau Gasol is reportedly expected to announce his retirement from professional basketball next week, as he’s still a free agent and had already announced his retirement from the Spanish national team:
“Pau Gasol is expected to announce his retirement from professional basketball next Tuesday, 5 October. He has set a press conference to address the ending of his career on Tuesday, per Lucas Saez-Bravo,” reported Eurohoops.
“Gasol, 41, was contemplating his future since confirming his retirement at the international level in August. He finished his lengthy and successful run as a member of the Spain national team following the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo during the summer,” the report added.
Gasol had one of the most remarkable careers by a foreign player in the history of the Association. He’s a future Hall of Famer, two-time NBA Champion, 6-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 4-time All-NBA, and one of the best players in recent Lakers history.
He’s even more of a legend when it comes to international hoops, winning 3 Liga ACB, one Spanish King’s Cup, 7 EuroBasket medals, 3 Olympic medals, and even 1 FIBA World Cup.
Gasol’s work ethic, personality, and versatile skill set made him the perfect teammate for Kobe Bryant when the Lakers were craving another star to go back to championship contention.
He was a beloved and respected teammate in all locker rooms and, albeit often linked to trade rumors, he always approached the game with utmost professionalism.
Now, at age 41, the Spaniard is finally ready to call it quits and enjoy some time with his family. Well deserved, Pau. It was a helluva run.
