Written by: Alex Torres
Pau Gasol is the second best player on the Los Angeles Lakers and plays in the shadow of Kobe Bryant: one of the greatest and most beloved Lakers of all time. He could easily be a first option superstar on most NBA teams, but fortunately for Lakers Nation he wears number sixteen for the purple and gold, and how sweet it is.
Without Pau Gasol the Lakers would not be a back-to-back championship team and more importantly on a pursuit for a third straight title. Now more than ever, the Lakers need Gasol to carry this team at the start of the season with Andrew Bynum being sidelined once again with an injury, and Kobe still not one hundred percent healthy.
While Kobe owns LA, Pau has a whole country behind him.
As of late, Spain has enjoyed much athletic success at the professional level worldwide in a variety of sports. Most recently, their national soccer team just won the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and also won the 2008 Euro Cup. Rafael Nadal, another native from Spain, is the only other tennis player not named Roger Federer who has held the number one tennis ranking and in the process won a couple major tennis championships. Then there is Pau Gasol, the first Spaniard to truly enjoy major success in the NBA, and a pioneer who paved the way for many more Spaniards to make the leap to the United States and showcase their talents in the NBA.
Next: More Than Just A Basketball Star
Pau Gasol is responsible for not only representing Spain in the NBA, but also representing Spain in international competition. He has been the anchor of a national team that won the gold medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championships, and earned a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic summer games after losing to his teammate Kobe Bryant and the “Redeem Team”. His impact on the nation is immense, just walk around any part of Spain, especially Barcelona where Gasol was born and you will see his face, jersey, and name all over the place. Pau’s impact on his country is beyond words, and there is no question that he has not only represented himself but his country with tremendous grace.
What makes Gasol such an admirable person is his personality. He is very smart and a former medical student whose talents go way beyond the hardwood. Under his belt is five different languages including Spanish, English, and Italian. Although he quit medical school in order to pursue his career in basketball he still continues to be fascinated by the medical field. In June 2010, he was able to observe a thirteen-year-old girl have surgery because of Scoliosis. He has also had some guest appearances on television, so just add acting to his already overloaded resume.
Its Pau Gasol’s versatility off and on the court that truly make him an unbelievable player and an amazing person. Whether it be passing and dishing out assists like he was an All-Star point guard, or traveling around the globe as the NBA’s ambassador, Gasol’s personality and impact on the Lakers, the game of basketball, and his country are no longer unnoticed.