The official signing of Pau Gasol in Barcelona caught me right next to Shimon Amsalem. Shimon, who understands a thing or two about media and image, immediately told me: “Leave. This is a publicity stunt, at the age of 40 after two years without basketball – he really has nothing to contribute at this level.” Admittedly, a statement that made me think. So in this article we will try to understand Is it really the return of the greatest Spanish player of all time (and perhaps more so) to his youth team is a professional move, or is it a soft and pampering caress of the Catalan club’s appearance, which could even hurt the aspirations of winning the Euroleague and the Spanish championship.
A brief flick on Pau Gasol’s resume begins in his trophy cabinet: 2 championships with Barcelona, 2 championships with the Lakers, a world championship with Spain, 3 European championships and 2 Olympic silver medals – this is just a reminder of Gasol’s power and influence on Spanish basketball in particular, and the world As a rule. Before Gasol who led the golden generation, the Spanish team was a good European team, not much more than that. With the Pau era coming to an end, Spain is a world basketball powerhouse, one that on good days has managed to look the white of the eyes even at the strongest American teams.
1,362 games in the NBA over nearly two decades have established Gasol’s status as one of the greatest European players in the history of the best basketball league in the world. He averaged 18.3 points, picked up 9.9 rebounds and also added 3.4 assists each evening. Efficient, smart and elegant, the one who won the title of Rocky of the Year, who was chosen six times as an All-Star and in the future – a member of the Hall of Fame. It is already closed and locked. So far so good.
The last time Pau Gasol stepped on the floor was on March 10, 2019, in a Milwaukee uniform. The 18/19 season was the season whose contribution was greatly reduced in San Antonio. He became a free agent and tried to come back and play through the Bucks, but that was not it. Gasol had to undergo foot surgery, and even when he thought he could return to play and signed for Portland, he was released after a common understanding that he was not ready yet.
🤔 Posa’t a prova amb el test sobre @paugasol
– Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) February 24, 2021
So the comeback was postponed and the rehabilitation continued with the aim of getting back in shape for the 2020 Olympics, thus ending a glorious career on what would honor a player in Pau’s status. But Corona had other plans, and some say it may have saved Gasol’s Olympic ambitions, which even in July 2020 were still considered “recovering”. Jump forward, arriving in February 2021 – Gasol signs in Barcelona a few days after denying he can return to the floor.
An official statement from the Spanish legend stated that “he will soon join the Barcelona basketball team, putting his abilities and experience to the benefit of the club and at the same time continue to improve his physical condition and get into a rhythm of play”. Lots of nice words, it’s not clear what coverage is currently behind them. One thing is for sure – Gasol is coming to Barcelona to prepare himself for Tokyo 2021, and if on the way he adds a first Euroleague title in his career, what good.
But the important thing is the team. If he is fit, he will be in Spain’s squad. He earned it honestly. Gasol knows it, Spain national team coach Scariolo knows it, and even the same player who will have to vacate his place in the squad understands that. Still, this is Pau Gasol.
So what will he get out of signing at Barça we understand, but what benefit can Barcelona derive from the event? At the position level, Sharas’ team lacks a replacement chin. With all due respect to the Ukrainian Artium Postboy, as well as to Rolands Schmits and Pierre Oriola – all plasters. Either they are not in their original position, or they simply do not fit the required level of a team vying for the title in the two toughest factories in Europe – the Euroleague and the Spanish league. So if Gasol is able to play, and will be even 50% of what he was in the past, the whole profit of Barcelona.
Only now there are some major question marks surrounding Gasol’s return, the first being his physical condition. Even if the injury is really behind him, Pau is already 40. When looking for reasons for optimism one can only peek over the shoulder at Luis Scola, a player in a position similar to Gasol, and see how he managed to contribute not bad at all in the Euroleague with Milan last year, and even cheered up. Italian league in points per game.
On the other side of the coin, another European basketball legend, and Celis Spanoulis, who at 38 is having a hard time meeting the required skills in the Euroleague. The legs are no longer what they used to be, and that affects every aspect of his game, from penetration, shooting and of course defense. I know what to say: this is an unfair comparison between guard and chin and different requirements. I agree, but it is still an obvious comparison given the age and glorious history of Gasol and Spanoulis, and also due to the fact that they have both recovered from not-so-simple injuries recently.
In another matter, Barcelona have one of the most demanding coaches in world basketball, one who knows Pau Gasol from their time together in Barcelona, and the struggles between them as players in the international arena. Now Sharas meets Gasol in a different hat – as his direct coach. Can you imagine a situation where Sharas comes out with a series of screams on Pao following a wrong position on defense or breaking a certain exercise on offense? I do not.
Barça have players of the highest caliber in Europe, such as Mirotic, Klaths and Higgins, but none of them are close to Gasol’s ankles and none of them are immune to the Lithuanian coach’s tantrums. Thus, the inclusion of Gasol’s inclusion in the group fabric is also a significant tier in the success of all the factors involved in this story.
So like many things in this period of our lives, the hidden superior over the visible in terms of Pau Gasol’s possible professional contribution to Barcelona in its current state. Answering the question of image prank is also a difficult task, but at least in my opinion – even if it’s a public relations move, let Barça’s marketing manager raise it – he honestly earned it.