The one from Sant Boi is an institution in Los Angeles and a benchmark player for continental basketball
It appears next to names like Nowitzki, Petrovic, Stojakovic, Sabonis or Parker
Former Los Angeles Lakers power forward, Pau Gasol, He is one of the most transcendental players in the history of European basketball. Along with Kobe Bryant, he won two rings (2009 and 2010) and left an indelible mark on the NBA.
Catalan, which He has lived a special day with the withdrawal of his number ’16’ in the pavilion of the Angelina franchiseis considered one of the best European players in history and in keeping with names like those of Nowitzki, Parker, To coc, Petrovic, Stojakovic o Sabonisamong others, in addition to some current ones such as Antetokounmpo, Jokic o Doncicwho still dominates the league with an iron fist to this day.
The also ex of Grizzlies, Bulls, Bucks or Spurs averaged 17 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his 1,226 NBA games with a shooting percentage slightly above 50% (50.7) and a consolidated 36.8% from beyond the 6’25 meter line. He was voted Rookie of the Year in his debut season and won two rings with the Lakersin addition to being chosen up to six times for the All-Staralthough only once was he as a starter.
Who’s the best?
The eternal debate. And, of course, an answer without unanimity. Because it is complex to compare times, stages, contexts. For some it will be: because of his understanding with Bryant or perhaps because of his empowerment of the collective. Not for others, who will surely place Dirk Nowitzkifranchise man of the Dallas Mavericks and a player who continues to be in the top 10 all-time scorers in the competition. With an MVP and a ring in his possession, with a wild series against the Miami Heat of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade in 2011. Or maybe Parker, who led the San Antonio Spurs along with Duncan and Ginobili as one of the most attractive teams between the end of the first decade of the 2000s and the beginning of the second.
For the most romantic, they may be Stojakovic, Sabonis o Petrovicwho paved the way in the NBA and laid the first stone of European basketball in a cult country like the United States. Perhaps because of the competition, at that time, especially defensive and physically demanding.
In the European quintet
The NBA published the results of the vote for the best European quintet on the occasion of his 75th birthday and, among the five names, appears that of Pau Gasolnext to Nowitzki, Antetokounmpo, Parker y Doncic. Others like Jokictwo times MVP and more than likely third this season; To coc, Petrovic, Stojakovic y Sabonis.
Antetokounmpo, Jokic and Doncic present credentials
In the current NBA, three proper names stand out above all: Antetokounmpo, Jokic y Doncic. Bucks, Nuggets and Mavs leaders, respectively, are the visible face of a continent that increasingly exports more talent to North American lands: Still young, they are already a reality and an institution in the NBA and it is a matter of time before they continue to enlarge the legend in American basketball.
