Pau Gasol is one of the finalists selected to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023 in Springfield (Massachusetts).
ESPN reports that along with the 42-year-old Spanish power forward, who recently had his number 16 jersey retired by the Los Angeles Lakers, legends such as Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Becky Hammon and Gregg Popovich will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The official announcement of the selection of these basketball legends will take place during the NCAA Final Four.
Dwyane Wade: He retired from the NBA in 2019 after a 16-year career in which he won three NBA rings. He was a 13-time All-Star and is considered one of the best point guards in history.
Dirk Nowitzki: Retired from the NBA in 2019 after two decades with the Dallas Mavericks. He led Dallas to the NBA Finals MVP in 2011 and is one of the best power forwards basketball has ever seen. He led Germany to a World Cup bronze medal and a European silver medal.
Pau Gasol: Retired from the NBA in 2019 with two championship rings after playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks. He was a six-time All-Star and the Lakers retired his jersey.
The Sant Boi native was Rookie of the Year in 2002 and went on to play 1,226 regular season NBA games (1,150 of them as a starter), averaging 17 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
In the Playoffs, Gasol played 136 games and averaged 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocks.
With Spain, he has won three Olympic medals, three European Championships and two World Championships.
Gregg Popovich: He is the coach with the most wins in NBA history, has led the United States to an Olympic gold medal and has been NBA champion five times with the Spurs.
Tony Parker: 17 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and French basketball legend. Four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and 2007 Finals MVP. European champion with France.
Becky Hammon: She is the first female coach of the Las Vegas Aces (WNBA), was a six-time All-Star in the WNBA, worked as an assistant coach for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and on December 30, 2020, became the first woman in history to coach a game in the NBA. In Spain, she played for Rivas Ecopolis.
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