Pau Gasol announces his retirement as a symbol of correctness, education, respect and values
To understand what Pau Gasol is, you only have to listen to his answer to the question he was asked about his new stage and his first objectives in the IOC (International Olympic Committee): "To learn and to listen". Humility personified.
He is a close friend of his friends. Friendship is another of the values that are most present in Pau's life. Rafa Nadal tells how they became friends. They had contact thanks to the sports brand they both used and they shared some publicity events.
Although the great friendship was forged at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Many hours together. On a personal level, they understand each other perfectly and support each other despite the distance.
We have seen Pau at Roland Garros and Rafa in Lille at the European Championships, to give an example.
Juan Carlos Navarro, his great friend, could not be missing. He never lost the contact despite the distance. And what about Kobe .... His brother in Los Angeles. After the tragedy, Pau turned and continues to turn to the family of his great friend.
His brother Marc is always by his side. In the family, in the Foundation and in everything related to his life. He has two brothers, two great friends.
Lakers teammate Russell Westbrook said Pau always played the "right" way. Everything in his life is right. 18 years in the best basketball league in the world and he earned everyone's respect.
The event to announce his retirement has been as correct as possible. An emblematic place in Barcelona, the Liceu Theatre. His teammates, coaches, managers and friends who were able to travel and, of course, his family, the great support that the great athlete has always had.
The great reception with long applause that the Real Madrid fans gave him on his last visit to the Wizink Center when his name was announced over the loudspeaker has stayed with him. He has earned the respect and admiration of all sports fans, FC Barcelona fans and all opposing fans. Not only for his achievements with the Spanish national team, but also for his poise, his humility and his correctness as a sportsman.
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to retire his jersey with the number 16 and raise it to the roof of the Staples Center together with his friend Kobe's number 24.
Back in 2018 Kobe Bryant announced that this would happen. He said: "I can't wait to see him give a speech in front of all those fans who have supported him over the years"; and added: "The Lakers wouldn't have those two championships without him".
But not only, which is a lot, for his 19 NBA seasons, two rings and six All-Stars, but for his education with teammates, fans, officials, journalists and rivals.
Naturally, he faced his intervention in famous American series such as CSI, Modern Family or Numb3rs. The last two were easier, as he played himself at the Staples Center. CSI marked his brother Marc when he saw his brother lying in the autopsy room.
FC Barcelona, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and again FC Barcelona are the teams that have enjoyed his professionalism, his humility, his correctness, but also his quality and class.
And, of course, with the Spanish National Team. A great star who put the name of Spanish basketball at the top. Based on humility and hard work. Since 1999 with the "Golden Juniors" in Lisbon with Juan Carlos Navarro, Felipe Reyes and Raúl López beating the USA.
In 2006, winning the World Championship and taking the name of Spain all over the world.
In 2008 and 2012 the Dream Team won us gold twice in the Beijing and London games, two silver medals that are not bad at all! In Rio we won bronze.
For decades the whole country has been proud of its team and its leader, Pau Gasol, who retired from the national team at the last Tokyo games, losing to our basketball bête noire, the United States. Paradoxically, the country that made him the best basketball player in Spanish history and one of the best in the world.
.
