Pau Gasol's NBA Hall of Fame Inclusion

Pau Gasol’s NBA Hall of Fame inclusion was on Saturday, becoming the first Spanish basketball player to receive this prestigious honor. He joined former Spanish coaches Pedro Ferrándiz and Antonio Díaz-Miguel in this esteemed recognition.

In his acceptance speech, Gasol conveyed his profound gratitude,” an enormous honor and a testament to the support, guidance, and inspiration that many have given me during my basketball journey”.

As a double NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, Gasol also emphasized the privilege of being included in the 2023 Hall of Fame class alongside other basketball luminaries such as Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade, Becky Hammon, and Gregg Popovich.

Gasol was visibly moved by the tribute and particularly delighted to have the esteemed European basketball legend, Toni Kukoc, as his presenter. With a touch of humor, he reflected, “If they told me that one day I would not only meet Kukoc but that I would also be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I would not have believed it. And yet here we are,”

Although Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was intended to be his co-presenter, Gasol noted that Abdul-Jabbar was unable to attend the Springfield ceremony due to illness.

Acknowledging his journey, Gasol expressed gratitude to the Memphis Grizzlies for providing him with the “opportunity” to play in the NBA and fulfill his lifelong dream. However, he emphasized that his transition to the Lakers in 2008 marked a transformative turning point: “It was a life-altering moment that shaped both my personal and professional trajectory.”

Pau Gasol’s NBA Hall of Fame inclusion joins him with the coaches Pedro Ferrándiz and Antonio Díaz-Miguel as the sole Spanish representatives.

This tribute to Pau Gasol’s NBA Hall of Fame inclusion arrives just five months after the Los Angeles Lakers retired his iconic No. 16 jersey.

Gasol, a distinguished six-time NBA All-Star at the age of 43, has also left an enduring legacy with the Spanish national team. His accomplishments encompass victory in the 2006 World Cup, Eurobasket championships in 2009, 2011, and 2015, as well as three Olympic medals (silver in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and bronze in Rio 2016).