The last few months have been something of an affirmation of the stellar career Pau Gasol had.
The star big man played six and a half of his 18 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. His arrival there in 2008 transformed them from a mediocre team to a bona fide powerhouse.
Buy Lakers TicketsThe Lakers instantly reached the NBA Finals three straight times and captured back-to-back world championships, including one over their hated rivals, the Boston Celtics.
Gasol was recently named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2023, and he had his No. 16 jersey retired by the Lakers in an emotional ceremony in early March.
According to ESPN sources, Gasol has gained the final nod for the Hall of Fame and will get inducted later this year.
ESPN Sources: Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Becky Hammon and Gregg Popovich are among the finalists who’ve been elected into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2023. Formal announcement will come at Final Four in Houston this weekend.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 29, 2023
He will go in as part of one of the most star-studded classes ever. Joining him are fellow NBA greats Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker, longtime San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon.
Hammon served as one of Popovich’s assistant coaches; she was the second female assistant coach in league history. During a 2020 game against the Lakers, she took over for Popovich after he was ejected, allowing her to make history as the first female acting head coach in NBA history.
