Pau Gasol enjoys Hall of Fame: “It has always been very special to feel the love and support of Spain”

“Playing for my team has always been a great pride for me. I think it is very beneficial for me to be called up and play with my teammates every summer. “Feeling the love and support of my country has always meant a lot to me from day one, I always tried to make them proud,” Gasol said at a press conference at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, USA. .

“Even when I came to the United States, the expectations were very high after being so well chosen. [en el Draft]. “I just wanted to make my country proud and get more kids excited, to do something special,” he said. San Boi, member of the class of 2023 in the real luxury list.

In addition to the European Gasol, Nowitzki and Parker, the Americans will also be blessed Dwyane Wade and Becky Hammond next to you Gene Bess, Gary Blair, David Hixon, Gene Keady, Jim Valvano1976 USA women’s national team and current head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, veteran and multi-award Gregg Popovic.

Among the merits of the Catalans are two championship rings, six participations. all stars gameHe was awarded the Rookie of the Year award (playing for the Memphis Grizllies) in the 2001/02 academic year and was featured in one of the season’s top fives four times. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers withdrew their number 16 jersey on March 7.

“You don’t start playing after you finish basketball and you don’t say ‘I want to be a Hall of Famer.’ Just try to be your best, be a great teammate and win championships. If you do this everything will fall into place.“, explained Gasol, who also appreciated the Europeans’ progress in the biggest professional American League.

“I think this promotion has been an incredible success for European basketball and it is the same for international basketball. I think the game has improved a lot since we started playing it. “We can be proud to take the international game to a higher level and see how existing players take the game to a higher level,” said the Catalan athlete.

Emotionally saying, he admitted that something happened “Sharing” the Hall of Fame entry with Nowitzki and Parker is “very special” to him, “Because it’s great”, after many struggles on the courts of the NBA and also on the “Old Continent”. “It was unimaginable until recently,” added a man from Sant Boi.

Gasol, on the other hand, recalled his friendship with the late Kobe Bryant, his teammate of several years with the Los Angeles Lakers. “My relationship with Kobe was very, very special. I have so many great memories on and off the court. Chasing a championship requires having that special edge.”He drew attention to complicity.

“From the moment I arrived [a Los Ángeles]There was no time to lose. I went from the beginning to make sure he knew and it was great because he seemed sincere. It was like, ‘Oh, this man has been here forever. and this was for me a link inside and outside“He highlighted his transition to the Lakers, where he won two NBA championships.

“And playing with boys all season… Everyone is welcome there. It was the right time and place, and good things happened. My relationship with Kobe was very, very special in my life, for me and my family. But when we loosen up a bit and try to connect more on a personal level, I remember those moments deeply and miss them.”

Finally, Gasol said, “It’s nice to see, show and share a message that something is possible. things change, things get better, Everything is exciting and it allows any child, boy or girl, to dream and think they can do it too.” “That’s the exciting part for me,” the Catalan finished.