Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. As such, we are pleased to comment on the Los Angeles Lakers’ retirement of Pau Gasol’s number #16 last night.
Debuting in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, the 7’ 1” Center, becoming the first European to win the Rookie of the Year. An All-Star for Memphis in 2006, Gasol never had a year where his PPG was lower than 17, his RPG were lower than 7, and his Blocks were lower than 1.5 per Game. Gasol was low-key one of the more complete players in Basketball, but was not noticed on the national level due to playing in Memphis. This changed when he was traded to the Lakers during the 2007-08 Season.
Joining Kobe Bryant, Gasol had his perfect dance partner. Gasol kept his scoring numbers strong, and was able to increase his rebounding stats, posting three straight 10-plus RPG years (2009-10 to 2011-12), earning three straight All-Stars (2008-09 to 2010-12), and most importantly, helped lead the Lakers to Titles in 2009 and 2010. Gasol was never going to be under the radar again, and Los Angeles treated him like royalty. He left the Lakers in 2014 for the Chicago Bulls as a Free Agent.
His #16 now hangs side-by-side with Kobe’s #8 and #24 it should be. He also joins Wilt Chamberlain (#13), Elgin Baylor (#22), Gail Goodrich (#25), Magic Johnson (#32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (#33), Shaquille O’Neal (#34), James Worthy (#42), Jerry West (#44), Jamaal Wilkes (#52) and George Mikan (#99).
Gasol is a Finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year, and is a probable first-year entrant. 2023 is shaping up to be a special year for Gasol.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Pau Gasol for earning this impending honor.
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