Pau Gasol Biography: Life, Career, Stats & Facts

Matt MacDonald
6 Min Read

Want to find out more about Pau Gasol?

We’ve looked at his life, career, stats, and facts to bring you a detailed biography of this legend of the NBA game.

Pau Gasol Away from the Basketball Court

Pau is an iconic figure in the basketball world, but what do we know about him outside of the court?

Well, he was born in Barcelona on the 6th of July, 1980. It might be a city and country that’s most well-known for soccer, but if you walk the streets today, basketball is pretty huge too. No doubt, Pau played a big role in this, showing that a boy from Barcelona can make it on the most iconic team in the NBA.

As you might know, he’s not the only NBA star born in the city of Barcelona though. He’s joined by his brother, Marc Gasol, and Ricky Rubio, among others.

Throughout his career, Pau has done plenty of work away from the court, working as a UNICEF ambassador since 2003, growing the Gasol Foundation to promote healthy lifestyles in the community, and fighting for equality in sports among many other causes.

So, while Pau Gasol’s career stats might be impressive, his work off the court is just as successful.

Pau Gasol Career

This is where the story becomes a little more familiar – Pau Gasol is a legend of basketball, and one of the most iconic Lakers.

One of the first questions people want to know is how many rings does Pau Gasol have? Well, Pau won back-to-back titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, forming a potent partnership with Kobe Bryant that will be remembered throughout NBA history.

This often leads to the logical question of is Pau Gasol a hall of famer? The answer is no, not yet, but it’s not too far away! It’s highly likely he will be voted into the 2023 hall of fame class, so his name can rightly be mentioned with the greats of the game.

Pau Gasol Stats and Facts

Pau Gasol’s long and distinguished career saw him rack up some impressive stats. We’ve looked into them in more detail to give you some of the key takeaways.

Pau Gasol as a Laker

  • Games Played: 429
  • PPG: 17.7
  • RPG: 9.9
  • APG: 3.5

Pau Gasol in the NBA

  • Games Played: 1,226
  • PPG: 17.0
  • RPG: 9.2
  • APG: 3.2

Important Facts about Pau Gasol

  • 2 time NBA Champion (2009, 2010)
  • 6 time NBA All-Star (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016)
  • NBA Rookie of the Year (2002)
  • 3 time Liga ACB Champion (1999, 2001, 2021)
  • ACB Finals MVP (2001)
  • FIBA World Cup MVP (2006)

FAQs: Pau Gasol

  • Is Pau Gasol a Hall of Famer?
    No, Pau Gasol is not currently an NBA hall of famer, but it’s likely he will join this elite club before too long. Pau is eligible for the 2023 class and is likely to be inducted alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Dwayne Wade.
  • How many points did Pau Gasol average with Kobe?
    Pau Gasol played some of his best basketball with Kobe, averaging 17.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 3.5 APG across a total of 357 games.
  • How good was Pau Gasol on the Lakers?
    Pau Gasol will go down as one of the great Lakers players. It’s not just the back-to-back championship rings he won in 2009 and 2010, but it’s the legendary relationship he had with NBA icon Kobe Bryant that will live long in the memory.
  • What team did Pau Gasol win a championship with?
    Although Pau Gasol played on multiple NBA teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs, it was with the Lakers where he had most success, winning two championships in 2009 and 2010.
  • Has Pau Gasol been an All-Star?
    Pau Gasol is a 6-time NBA all-star, making him one of the most successful international players the league has ever seen.
  • Is Pau Gasol Retired?
    Yes, Pau Gasol retired from professional basketball in 2021. He’s since had his iconic number 16 jersey retired by the LA Lakers.

Pau Gasol: A Lakers Icon

Perhaps the easiest way to sum up Pau Gasol’s impact in basketball is this: On one of the most fabled NBA teams, the Lakers, only 12 players have had their jersey retired, and Pau is among them.

The Spaniard’s name is held with the same regard as legends like Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, and of course, his great partner, Kobe Bryant.

He’s a true legend of the game.

Get the latest Lakers news!

Exit mobile version