2025 FIBA Hall of Fame: Pau Gasol

MIES (Switzerland) - Pau Gasol, who led Spain to their first FIBA Basketball World Cup title in 2006, spearheaded runs to the top of the FIBA EuroBasket podium in 2009, 2011 and 2015 and won medals at three of the five Olympics he played, is being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as a member of class of 2025.

He will be honored at an enshrinement ceremony in Bahrain on May 17 and is joined by Alphonse Bilé (Côte d'Ivoire), Andrew Bogut (Australia), Leonor Borrell (Cuba), Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal), Ratko Radovanovic (Serbia), Dawn Staley (USA); as well as Coach Mike Krzyzewski (USA).

The MVP of the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup and at FIBA EuroBaskets 2009 and 2015, the 2.13M (7 ft) center is also a legend in the NBA, where he competed for two decades and captured two championships.

Gasol led Spain's golden generation to its first major title at the 1999 FIBA U19 World Cup in Portugal, forging a bond that kept the group reuniting with the national team year after year.

"I was going to play for Spain every year, no matter what. I loved playing for my country. The pride that I felt representing my country was very special," he said

Gasol's star began to really take off in his second full season (2000-01) at Barcelona, when he averaged 12.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in almost 25 minutes per game. That season, Gasol led Barca to Copa del Rey glory and the Spanish ACB title, earning MVP honors in both.

The Memphis Grizzlies snapped him up with the No. 3 pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. Before launching his rookie campaign, Gasol traveled to Istanbul to lead Spain to a bronze medal at the FIBA EuroBasket, reconfirming that greatness was in his future.

And it definitely was because at the next EuroBasket two years later in Sweden, Gasol led the tournament in scoring at 25.8 points per game as Spain reached the Final. Next was his Olympic bow in Athens in 2004, when Spain reached the Quarter-Finals before they were upset by the USA in the Quarter-Finals. Even so, Gasol led the tournament in scoring at 22.4 points per game.

Spain's finest hour arrived two years later when they went unbeaten and won the World Cup in Japan. Gasol was named MVP after an incredible display, when he averaged 21.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and had a tournament-best 19 blocks.

In 2008, Gasol and Spain travelled to China for the Beijing Olympics and made it to the Final, where they lost what many described as the greatest Gold Medal Game ever played, to the USA. The Americans prevailed, 118-107, though Gasol had 21 points. He led the Olympics in scoring for the second straight time at 19.6 points per game.

Gasol helped carry on the tradition of podium finishes the next year, only this time it was a historic first EuroBasket crown for Spain in Poland. Gasol led the tournament in scoring with 18.7 points per game and capped it off with 18 points and 11 rebounds as Spain dominated Serbia 85-63 to claim the title.

While Juan Carlos Navarro was named MVP of the EuroBasket Spain won two years later in Lithuania, Gasol was named to the All-Star Five after Spain beat France, 98-85, in the Final.

Spain got another crack at the USA in the London Olympics Final, but the Americans prevailed again, albeit in an even closer game than Beijing, 107-100.

Gasol's next incredible moment with Spain came at EuroBasket 2015 in France, where he once again led the tournament in scoring at 25.6 points per game.

The sweetest victory came in the Semi-Finals against hosts France in Lille, a rematch loaded with emotion after Les Bleus had upset Spain at the 2014 World Cup in Madrid. Gasol delivered one of the greatest performances in EuroBasket history, pouring in 40 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead Spain to a dramatic 80-75 overtime win.

Spain carried that momentum into the Final, where they defeated Lithuania 80-63 to capture the EuroBasket 2015 title, with Gasol once again leading the way and being named tournament MVP.

Gasol and Spain showcased their resilience at the Rio 2016 Olympics, securing a bronze medal after a narrow 89-88 victory over Australia after falling 82-76 to the USA. At EuroBasket 2017 in Istanbul, Spain faced a strong Slovenia team led by Tournament MVP Goran Dragic and rising star Luka Doncic in the Semi-Finals. But fought their way to a podium finish, defeating Russia 93-85 in the Third-Place Game — marking Gasol’s 11th podium finish with the national team.

Gasol played for Spain one last time at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, helping the country finish sixth.

In the NBA, Gasol started fast with a Rookie of the Year winning campaign in Memphis and went on to have a hugely successful career. He spent his first seven seasons with Memphis and after establishing himself as a great player in the league, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired him in a trade in the 2007-08 season. This led to an even bigger appreciation in America for his talent and overall excellence on the court because in 2009 and 2010, he was vital for the team as it won NBA championships.

Gasol then played for Chicago, San Antonio, and wrapped up his NBA career after a spell with Milwaukee.

In the NBA, Gasol was six times an All-Star, twice an All-NBA Second Team, and twice an All-NBA Third Team.

In 2023, Gasol was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

FIBA