As Europe, NBA legends had a minimal however essential affect on PAU Gasol.
At present, Pau Gasol is called the most effective European athletes to adorn hardwoods. In spite of everything, Gasol performed a key function within the 2009 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers back-to-back NBA titles.
By then, Gasol was well-known as the proper companion for the purple and gold Kobe Bryant.
Most followers adored the insane expertise of gasoll paint. However did NBA gamers have a direct influence on their publish expertise? 2x NBA champions answered lately.
Gasol, who got here from the Spanish league, had not taken the standard path to get drafted. Clearly, he was comparatively unknown on the time.
Solely when Gasol was drafted into the league proved he had the most effective paint expertise within the league. So how did he study that ability?
“I used to be capable of see and examine totally different gamers and attempt to deal with issues, change into extra environment friendly, assault and rating.
“The coach helped me develop my recreation, however it wasn’t a selected participant (for me) similar to him. I noticed Hakeem Olajuwon. I noticed Tim Duncan. I noticed KG (Kevin Garnett). I noticed Chris Weber.”
Merely put, Gasol by no means restricted himself to only one reward of NBA legend. As an alternative, he was capable of take in the abilities of a number of gamers and assist him dominate the league as a younger European.
Within the trendy period of the NBA, most groups ship scouts and give attention to international expertise earlier than drafting.
However that wasn’t the case when Gasol was a prospect. Regardless of restricted publicity within the Spanish league earlier than the NBA, Gasol was chosen because the third total choose within the 2001 NBA draft.
Gasol was traded for the Memphis Grizzlies on draft evening, however helped him change into an outstanding participant and franchise legend for them.
He even grew to become the primary European participant in NBA historical past to win the Rookie of the Yr Award for his efficiency in the course of the 2001-02 season.
