On Lakers Nation’s Facebook we asked readers if they believed Pau Gasol will one day join the scores of basketball legends in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Gasol has had successful basketball careers in both his native country of Spain and in the National Basketball Association. Gasol currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and he made his case as one of the greatest international basketball players the league has seen after winning two championships in Los Angeles.
Gasol turned the Lakers franchise around overnight after his blockbuster trade. With Gasol, the Lakers made it to three consecutive NBA Finals and managed to win it all in two of them. There is no doubt Gasol has accomplished a lot in his NBA career, not to mention being an iconic figure in Spanish basketball. Many people would have Gasol on their list for future Hall of Fame players, and the readers on Lakers Nation’s Facebook page agreed.
Voting breakdown (total 1,640 votes casted):
- Yes: 1,414 total votes
- No: 226 total votes
There is very little chance that Pau Gasol does not end up being a Hall of Fame player. There have not many seven foot big men with his skill-set and his passing abilities cannot be duplicated. Gasol has proven that he can help bring a team a championship and he is poised for anther successful season with Kobe Bryant in 2012-13.
Gasol is in his 11th NBA season and along with his two NBA rings and his 2001-02 Rookie of the Year Award, he has been named to four All-Star games and was named to 2nd team All-NBA for the 2010-11 season.
It is safe to say that the Lakers will have four future Hall of Famers in their starting five next season.