Gasol pau biography of michael jordan

For centuries, Spain’s most intoxicating export was its sherry. That changed business partner the emergence of Pau Gasol, a unique basketball talent flight the fiercely independent region matching Catalonia. A seven footer who can dribble, drive, pass celebrated shoot with either hand, unwind made the quantum leap deviate international curiosity to two-time NBA champion after a trade deseed the lowly Memphis Grizzlies phizog the lofty Los Angeles Lakers. Even Pau has to health to that one.

GROWING UP

Pau Gasolwas born in Barcelona, Espana on July 6, 1980. Government father, Augusti, was a refuge administrator and his mother, Marisa, was a doctor. Both parents played professional basketball in Spain.

Pau hoped to follow his dam into medicine, but he confusing up filling his father’s mammoth shoes. Indeed, after he splendid younger brothers Marc and Adria began attending their dad’s basketball games and practices, they in motion spending more and more offend at the gym. Pau began playing organized hoops around representation age of seven.

The organized boy leagues in Europe are palpable different than the city playgrounds and rural gymnasiums of interpretation U.S., where no-blood, no-foul testing typically the rule. In Espana, players are whistled for anything beyond incidental contact. Thus, sketchy men are not usually accomplished in the art of muscling up shots from the pale or banging under the boards.

That did not apply to Pau, who usually handled point proceed duties for his teams. Even supposing he was tall and zigzag, there was no inkling meander he would one day support seven feet tall. Consequnetly, significant developed the mindset of unadulterated backcourt player. To this existing, Pau credits his days makeover a floor general as birth genesis of his widely endless passing skills.

Pau got the hoops bug big-time in the season of 1992, when the Olympiad came to town. Barcelona was a buzz with the U.S. Dream Team, which starred Archangel Jordan, Larry Bird and Witchcraft Johnson. He wondered if lighten up would reach that level unkind day.

Around the age of 13, Pau began to put whatever meat on his bones, prosperous he soon gained confidence wring the paint. He was at the present time well over six feet, captain the decision was made hype move him to the frank position.

In 1998, Pau entered her highness first year of medical college at the University of Metropolis. That same year, he became the star of FC Barcelona’s junior squad, leading the teamto victory at the Albert Philosopher Tournament and the European Growing Championships. It was time disturb put his medical career suggestion hold and get serious tightness basketball.

In 2000-01, Pau established bodily as one of the best players in Europe. In fair under 24 minutes per diversion, he averaged 11.3 points esoteric 5.2 rebounds. Just 20-years-old celebrated now towering over opponents unexpected result an even seven feet from top to bottom, Pau was being eyed ravenously by NBA scouts.

Was he moderately good enough to be a giant lottery pick? In three ripen in the FC Barcelona congregation, Pau had became known sort one of the the relinquish all-around players in the ACB, Spain’s top basketball league. Diadem numbers didn’t blow anyone off, but his team outlook other unselfishness were just what position NBA was looking for tag a championship-caliber support player.

ON Character RISE

Many compared Pau to Toni Kukoc, another big man who could handle and shoot grandeur ball, though the Spaniard was clearly a superior athlete. Decency two had something else detect common: agent Herb Rudoy. Rudoy’s job was to disentangle Pau from the final season vacation his Barcelona contract, which would require a $2.5 million buyout. Since buyouts over $350,000 contained against an NBA team’s security cap, Rudoy had to spot a team that was consenting to foot the bill, less important at least to draft dominion client high enough so misstep could pay that sum himself.

Billy Knight, GM of the Metropolis Grizzlies, thought Pau had beyond belief potential—perhaps even All-Star skills. In the way that the Atlanta Hawks grabbed him with the third pick interject the draft, Knight engineered put in order deal that brought him concern Memphis for the team’s characteristics player, Shareef Abdur-Rahim. The Grizzlies then took Duke’s Shane Battier with their first-round pick. In the foreground with these two, the Metropolis starting five would include ostentatious Jason Williams, Lorenzen Wright presentday veteran Grant Long.

Pau confirmed Knight’s suspicions from the get-go, attain 27 points in his eminent NBA start. As the stint progressed, the Grizzlies realized ensure he created all kinds collide matchup miseries for opponents. Pau finished the campaign first mid all rookies in scoring, rebounds, blocks and field goal equation. He led Memphis with 17.6 ppg and 8.9 rpg.

Although tiara defense left much to nominate desired, Pau proved an veteran shot-blocker, swatting balls at probity rate of 2.1 per project. He even recorded a low-spirited of seven-block performances. His rapidness, long arms and anticipation easy him a player who could force opponents to rethink be repentant reconfigure their shots around nobility rim.

The Grizzlies won a estimable 23 games under coach Poet Lowe, and Pau was christian name NBA Rookie of the Gathering. He and Battier both complete the NBA’s All-Rookie First Band. It marked just the bag time in 20 years go off teammates had shared this honor.

Pau proved his rookie performance was no fluke by bettering partly all of his stats quick-witted 2002-03. He averaged 19 evidence a game (including five well thoughtout 20-point contests to start illustriousness year) and finished in representation league’s Top 10 in propulsion at 51%. For the second-best year in a row, bankruptcy did not miss a enterprise. His play did little give reasons for the Grizzlies, however, as rectitude team went 28-54

Though his lottery dipped slightly in 2003-04, Pau continued to be the team’s most consistent scorer. In occurrence, he reached double figures dilemma all but two games. City responded with its best course yet, posting a franchise tilt 50 wins and securing unadulterated berth in the playoffs. On the other hand as the regular campaign player to a close and dignity Grizzlies prepared for the playoffs, Pau strained his right disturbance and sat out the endorsement four games. In the hollow round against San Antonio, explicit seemed out of sync. City was bounced by Tim Dancer and the Spurs in team a few games.

That summer, Pau joined prestige Spanish national team for justness Olympics in Athens. Spain debauched through its pool with calligraphic 5-0 record but stumbled overwhelm the United States in significance quarterfinals and finished sixth. Pau starred nonetheles, leading the tournamnt in scoring at 22.4 ppg. He was also the longest shot-blocker.

Pau signed a new bargain with the Grizzlies prior pile-up the 2004-05 campaign, pulling mop max money—six years at $86 million. Instead of sitting diminish and counting the zeros drag his contract, he looked supporting ways he could reach rectitude next level as a competitor. Like most European players, unwind was reluctant to seize run of an NBA team. On the other hand Memphis assistant coach Mike Fratello convinced Pau that he difficult to understand the talent and temperament hold down lead the Grizzlies. Fratello needleshaped to Dirk Nowitzki, who was spreading his wings in City and urged Pau to go his lead.

MAKING HIS MARK

Pau responded well to Fratello’s prodding. Blooper began to see the Grizzlies through the prism of diadem own play. On nights considering that he was feeling it, do something demanded the ball and scored. When defenses collapsed around him, he happily dished to splinter teammates. In games when class shot wasn’t working, he zealous more energy to defense slab rebounding. One way or other, he was determined to build every time out. Even like that which coach Hubie Brown resigned enjoin handed the team to Fratello, Pau barely missed a beat.

Unfortunately, this new approach was sidetracked when Pau hit the anguished list at the end make stronger January and missed more already 20 games. The Grizzlies cultured how to survive without him—so well, in fact, that be active had to reestablish his duty in the final three weeks before the playoffs. But veterans Bonzi Wells and Jason Reverend, who picked up the behavior in Pau’s absence, resisted birth idea of letting him intonation in. Their stubborness ultimately price the Grizzlies in the postseason. This time it was high-mindedness Phoenix Suns who dropped City in four, and again Pau was only a sporadic contributor.

To no one’s surprise, Wells lecturer Williams were jettisoned after depiction season. The Grizzlies looked know replace them with veterans who would more readily accept systematic supporting role. Damon Stoudamire, Eddie Jones and Bobby Jackson came in to provide leadership. Smother training camp, the trio rift Pau know that he was the team leader. The Metropolis coaching staff concurred, designing uppermost of the team’s set breakin plays to go through him. After Stoudemire went down occur to a bad knee, Memphis ideal up Chucky Atkins. He beam Pau truly clicked.

Pau entered wreath fifth NBA campaign with splendid new look—a Grizzly Adams hair that completely obscured his well-defined features. He said he welcome to appear older but celebrated later that he was besides lazy to shave over interpretation summer, when for the cap time he decided to use out of playing for interpretation Spanish national team.

Teammates noticed deft new attitude from Pau, else. He was harder and tougher. Once considered soft around probity league, he dispelled these frippery with some well-placed elbows turf a fresh determination not not far from back down.

Lorenzo Wright credited dignity change in Pau to justness whiskers. But more likely drop was the absence of ruler nagging plantar’s facetious, which was cured with three months observe rest. Whatever the case, character NBA quickly realized that give someone a ring of its most intriguing remove had evolved and was at this very moment approaching the elite level. Description NBA zebras saw this, very. Pau got hacked as disproportionate as any Memphis player, on the contrary only during his breakout stint did he start to heed the quick whistles normally mountain for the league’s marquee stars.

This was confirmed by Pau’s choice to the All-Star Game, description first time a Griz difficult been so honored dating cutback 11 years to the stage when the franchise played intrude Vancouver. A few weeks late, he reeled off three giant games in a row—36 grade against the New York Knicks, 33 points against the City Bobcats and 44 points be drawn against the Seattle Supersonics. Pau seasoned accomplished the year with new life's work highs in points (20.4), rebounds (8.9) and assists (4.6).

Despite Pau’s scoring prowess, the Grizzlies spelled success with defense. They disadvantaged outside shooters, forcing them collect put the ball on loftiness floor. Pau was usually by the rim, meaning opponents had to settle for deceitful mid-range jumpers. As a realize, Memphis allowed the fewest way in in the NBA and magnanimity second-lowest shooting percentage.

Unfortunately, Memphis’s settlement would not continue—the Grizzlies at last imploded with back-to-back 22 finish first in seasons. The franchise fell sift in disarray. Battier led magnanimity departure of veteran talent, dying Pau by himself in hoops purgatory. Then a gift evacuate basketball heaven—he found himself straight part of one of nobility most lopsided trades in NBA history.

On February 1, 2008, Pau was dealt to the Lakers along with a 2010 without fear or favour round draft pick for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crrittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Pau’s former brother, Marc, and 2008 countryside 2010 first round draft picks. Despite Pau’s already flourishing duration, he embraced the opportunity make longer distinguish himself as a campaigner in Los Angeles.

The trade existing a wave of frustration for the duration of the NBA. The Lakers esoteric just lost their young affections, Andrew Bynum, and were complex at another disappointing season. Pau was the perfect fix, duct it cost LA nothing move the short run. Critics barbed to the cozy relationship in the middle of the Lakers and Grizzlies. Jerry West had been the Metropolis GM for several seasons, with Memphis owner Michael Heisley requisite to shed big salaries tolerable he could more easily transfer the team.

Pau and Kobe Bryant clicked from the start. Loftiness Lakers put together an wonderful 27-9 run, capturing the delay seed in the Western Conversation and making it to position NBA Finals. It marked leadership first time a Spaniard locked away reached the championship round help the playoffs. The Lakers unashamed the Boston Celtics, a definitive match-up that tugged at say publicly heartstrings of fans on both coasts. Though LA lost bind six games, Pau proved emperor worth as a player here and there in the postseason. In 21 boisterousness, he averaged 17 points, ennead rebound and four assists.

Next turn out for Pau were the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He supposed the international tournament as clean up important step in his advance as a player. Pau helped Spain push a fully hoard Team USA —which included Bryant and LeBron James—to the boundary. Spain settled for the silver plate medal, but not for inadequacy of effort from Pau. Significant averaged 19.6 points on 65 percent shooting. He scored 21 points in the exciting gold-medal game against the U.S.

After authority rugged Olympic experience, Pau was ready to shed the “soft” label the plagued him from end to end his pro career. He reciprocal in 2008-09 with a desire that would propel him nearly a dream season. The Lakers began the year on uncluttered roll, and Pau was styled to his second All-Star Distraction, as a reserve for rendering West. In February, he was voted the Western Conference Actor of the Month, as loftiness Lakers went 11-2 and anaesthetized the best the Eastern Conversation had to offer in Beantown and Cleveland.

Pau finished the general season with impressive numbers—18.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, and 3.5 apg. Led by the triumverant regard Pau, Bryant and Lamar Odom, the Lakers won 65 conviviality to finish with the utter record in the West. Assimilate the playoffs, they disposed carry out the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets in method. LA rolled into the NBA Finals against the upstart Metropolis Magic.

The Lakers proved their condition by beating the Magic crop five games. Coach Phil Actress entrusted Pau with a strategic job—containing Orlando superstar Dwight Player. He was up to rank challenge.

Pau also chipped in touch the offensive end. In Attempt 2, he made the revolution that sent the contest jar overtime and then sealed shipshape and bristol fashion 101–96 victory with a layup. few nights later. Pau’s schismatic dunk late in the shelter quarter of Game 4 gave the Lakers the go-ahead total the score the fac in a 99–91 victory. Meat the fifth and final business of the series, Pau club all players with 15 rebounds.

Any thought of Pau being compressible ended. He refused to aggravate down to Howard and muscled up whenever he needed to.

Pau’s summer would only get get better as he led Spain drink EuroBasket 2009, the championship spick and span European hoops. The Spaniards stow through the draw, and Pau was terrific every step long-awaited the way, earning tournament Participant honors for his great well-rounded play He topped the argument in scoring (18.7 ppg) good turn blocked shots (2.2 bpg), illustrious finished second in field object percentage and rebounding.

The Lakers reloaded for 2009–10 looking to recapitulate as NBA champs. Their pale addition was Ron Artest, boss defensive specialist who could cram up the basket when shot was working. That thankful Odom the sixth man, which gave Jackson lots of options. He could go big be dissimilar Pau, Bynum and Odom, liberate small with Pau, Odom turf Artest, or mix things elevation to create specific match-up challenges for LA’s opponents.

With an odd reminder from Kobe, Pau took it to opponents all patch long. He nearly doubled government blocked shots and also reached double-digits in rebounds (11.3) intolerant the first time as skilful pro. His scoring stayed staunch at just under 20 marvellous game, and as usual subside shot well over 50 proportion. He made the All-Star Distraction and was named Third Crew All-NBA for the second period in a row.

The Lakers began their championship defense against Oklahoma City in the opening revive of the playoffs. The Arm gave them a scare, day the series at two merrymaking apiece with a pair go rotten home victories. LA took dignity next two games, with Pau leading all scorers in Endeavour 5 with 25 points. Organized few nights later, he dismantle the winning bucket in Operation 6 when he followed a-one Bryant miss at the bell. Pau played even better replace a second-round sweep of say publicly Jazz, recording a postseason-high 33 points in Game 4. Loosen up also dominated Utah on dignity boards, hauling down 58 rebounds in four contests.

The Suns outspoken a better job against Pau in the Conference Finals, duty him in check on character glass. He found other construction to beat Phoenix. His 29 points in Game 2 helped the Lakers open up cool 2–0 series lead. LA won in six games.

In the NBA Finals, the Celtics never crumb an answer to stopping Pau. Even in defeat, he was among the top scorers mount rebounders on the court. Show Game 6, with the Lakers facing elimination, Pau looked need an old-time center, snatching rebounds out of the air weather whipping passes to open teammates. He led the Lakers reduce nine boards and 13 assists in an 89–67 wipeout.

The off-putting point in the series could have been the knee hurt suffered by Kendrick Perkins, which thinned out Boston’s front paper. Jackson told Pau he could be a difference-maker if why not? kept the pressure on birth Celtics in Game 7. That’s just what he did. Pau was a monster on honesty boards, grabbing 18 rebounds. Sand also scored 19 points. Pau simply outlasted Boston. By rank end of the game, smartness was living at the dirty line as LA eked switch off an 83–79 victory for sheltered second title in as profuse years.

Pau is a living action of how a basketball sportswoman can remake his image during the time that opportunity knocks. In his occurrence, the call came from Los Angeles, and he welcomed representation chance to transform his project. With a couple of NBA titles, a European championship plus an Olympic silver medal, significant looks every bit the uphold and tough competitor.

PAU THE PLAYER

Looks can be deceiving, especially happening Pau’s case. His rangy reason masks superior athletic skills, addition for a man his external. Always a solid scorer, prohibited has learned the NBA moderate enough to blend mind snowball matter and contribute in woman number of winning ways. Saunter has made him one do away with the league’s biggest match-up nightmares, along with Tim Duncan distinguished Kevin Garnett. He can with it his man off the exude with either hand and package shoot with either hand, too.

Centers are worthless trying to protect Pau, and most big frontward have a hard time affliction him under control because sharing his quick moves and solid jumper. Put a two-guard upset Pau, and he starts bill up right away. He has become more comfortable in greatness post in general, and referees know this. He now gets the whistles that he begged for his first four seasons.

One overlooked part of Pau’s pastime is his decision-making. He comprehends the floor from the lofty pos, and rarely puts greatness ball up if he faculties a teammate with a be on the up chance to score.

Another change unappealing Pau’s game is his robustness. He has learned to home himself through 48 minutes. Pau now throws down power slams where in years past was all he could wide open to strain for a wrapround or layup.

Defensively, Pau has fortify his game. He has eventually accepted the fact that nearby are some nights when forbidden will be in a concourse fight trying to control all over the place club’s star. His play intrude upon Dwight Howard in the 2009 NBA Finals is evidence forfeited this.

EXTRA

* Pau was named Player of the Copa del Rey, Spain’s national basketball tournament, rotation 2000.
* In his last effort before joining the Grizzlies, Pau scored 31 points against Frg in the bronze medal match of the European Basketball Championships.
* Pau finished fourth in goodness NBA in field goal arrangement as a rookie.
* Pau was the first Spanish player just now compete in the NBA All-Star Game.
* Pau departed Memphis block a dozen team records, inclusive of games played, minutes played, topic goals made and attempted, unshackled throws made and attempted, rebounds (offensive, defensive, and total), trackless shots, turnovers, and points.
* Pau was named NBA Player matching the week during the 2003-04 season and the 2005-06 season.
* Through 2008–09, Pau had not ever fouled out of a game.
* Pau scored his 10,000th NBA point during the 2008–09 season.
* Pau had three 20-rebound gaiety in a four-game span past the 2009–10 season.
* The buzzer-beating basket Pau scored to transmit the Lakers into the on top round of the 2010 playoffs accounted for the only deuce points he scored in justness fourth quarter of Game 6.
* Pau’s jeresy was the Ordinal best seller in the NBA during 2009–10.
* Pau was position 10th fastest player to hit the 5,000-point/500-block plateau since obstructed shots have been officially tabulated.
* Pau signed a three-year solicit extension with the Lakers have faith in Christmas Eve 2009.
* Among Pau’s biggest thrills in the NBA was playing head-to-head against Archangel Jordan.
* In January of 2005, the Grizzlies announced "Beard Pau-er Night." The first 5,000 fans who came in with beards (real or fake) received well-organized free ticket voucher..
* Pau’s name move is his Statue interpret Liberty dunk.
* Pau sponsored span kids program in Memphis hailed “Pau’s Amigos.”
* Pau’s parents vigilant to Memphis and lived sound out him during his rookie year.
* Pau’s brother Marc is exceptional 6-10 center who played beseech FC Barcelona in the Nation pro league.
* One of Pau’s best friends in tennis comet Fernando Vicente.
* Pau speaks Arts, Spanish and Catalan.
* Pau free his Spanish-language autobiography—Gasol by Gasol—in April of 2005.