Pau Gasol is among the Hall of Fame nominees for the class of 2023, announced this week as part of the National Basketball Hall of Fame selection process. The 42-year-old Spaniard, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, appears on a list that also includes legendary names such as Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, Tony Parker of France, and renowned coach Gregg Popovich. The roster also honors the United States women’s basketball team that captured Olympic gold during the 1976 Montreal Games in Canada.
Finalists for the honor will be revealed on February 17. The inductees will be announced during the NCAA Final Four in Houston, Texas, on April 1, with the ceremony taking place during the All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. The formal induction ceremony is scheduled for August 12 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Gasol has a storied career spanning 18 NBA seasons, having worn the jerseys of the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Portland Trail Blazers. Across his regular season tenure, he played 1,226 games, starting 1,150 of them, and averaged 17 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. After a long season, his per-game averages settled around 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks—a testament to his durability and impact that extended well beyond the box score.
These statistics place Gasol among the elite European players who made a lasting impact in the NBA, a list that also includes Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Drazen Petrovic, and Arvydas Sabonis. Beyond the numbers, Gasol’s presence on the court created moments that fans remember for years, including a profound friendship with the late Kobe Bryant and a striking moment in the 2015 All-Star Game when he shared a competitive smile with his brother Marc during the dunk-filled showcase.
Gasol is joined on the nomination roster by prominent figures such as Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks great who retired in 2019 after guiding Dallas to the 2011 NBA championship, and Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs. Together, their careers reflect a global influence on the game, high-level competition, and a lasting legacy that continues to inspire players around the world. The Hall of Fame process recognizes not only championships and statistics but also the enduring impact these players have had on the sport and its culture.