It appears that NBA veteran Pau Gasol doesn’t intend to finish his career just yet despite turning 40 this past summer. As a matter of fact, Gasol is currently working on his comeback and believes he can still be a contributor to a team.
In a recent chat with ESPN, Gasol said he hopes to prolong his career for at least one more season. He also hopes to earn a spot on Spain’s national team for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.
When asked about his preferred destination in the NBA, Gasol picked the Los Angeles Lakers. This wasn’t a surprising pick considering he has a history with the franchise, having won consecutive NBA titles in 2009 and 2010, and that his brother Marc Gasol will also play there next season.
“There is meaning and history there,” Gasol told ESPN. “I’m not going to lie. It would be very special, and now that my brother [Marc] is there, even more special. But I’m not in a position now to be very demanding. I don’t have 10 offers on the table.”
Pau Gasol struggled with injuries in the past two years and hasn’t played a single game in the NBA since March 2019. His most recent on-court action included three games with the Milwaukee Bucks in which he only contributed with 1.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
These issues seem to be behind Gasol now, as he already returned to workouts and is working on his fitness. Although it’s unclear to most how coveted his services will be, he admitted to receiving several training camp invitations in recent weeks.
Gasol has played for the Memphis Grizzlies, LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks during his 18 years in the NBA. Besides two championship rings and six All-Star nods, the Spaniard also has four All-NBA nods to his name.
