Pau Gasol’s NBA legacy lives on through the European players who followed him
When David Stern called Pau Gasol’s name with the 3rd overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, there were a total of 44 international players in the NBA.
Of those 44 players, only eight had played more than 2,000 minutes the previous season. By the time the Spaniard played his final minutes in the NBA in 2019, the number of internationals in the league had grown to 116. Almost 30 of these 116 players had cracked the 2,000-minute playing time threshold.
Over the course of Gasol’s nearly two decades in the league, the international landscape of the NBA has completely changed.
It all starts with how NBA talent evaluators can find international prospects. Today, streaming and social media support the process, with game footage and player information readily available, leaving no stone unturned for franchise scouting departments.
Players like Tony Parker (France), Vladimir Radmanovic (Yugoslavia/Serbia), Raül López (Spain), Mehmet Okur (Turkey), Antonis Fotsis (Greece) and Robertas Javtokas (Lithuania) have had very different experiences than today’s international stars like Victor Wembanyama.
It seems like a century has passed since the days when international players were confronted with unfair stereotypes about their game based on the country they came from.
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Two of the league’s leading MVP candidates – Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo – were not born in the United States. Four of the five top scorers in the NBA weren’t either this season, which is why international players are increasingly being rated more fairly. No clichés, no preconceived notions – they’re only judged on their game.
Gasol’s immediate impact and long-lasting legacy was just the beginning of this turnaround for players abroad.
Gasol came to the NBA as a skinny, 7-foot forward who “likes to face to the rim, handles the ball and has the ability,” as Gary Fitzsimmons, the Warriors’ general manager in 2001, told ESPN . He quickly earned the respect of the league and played at the highest possible level from the start.
Already in his first year in the league he faced off against a future MVP like Kevin Garnett, beat Richard Jefferson for Rookie of the Year and followed in Dirk Nowitzki’s footsteps as one of the best international players in the NBA.
Gasol’s success was responsible for a major change in the NBA’s playing style as the Barcelona product was never the strongest player on the court but has found a way, with his soft shot feel, sneaky quickness, sharp passing and sharp Defensive IQ to make an impression at 7 feet tall.
As a result, every year we saw teams picking big, smart, and well-rounded Europeans in the draft. Some were more successful than others, but it was clear that the Grizzlies’ home run swing on Gasol hadn’t gone unnoticed by the league.
Teams started looking everywhere to find “the next Gasol” or “the next Nowitzki.” They have made it infinitely more possible for international players to make it to the NBA instead of staying at home and playing in the Euroleague or other local leagues.
“He was really important [for European players]’ Slovenian veteran Goran Dragic told The Sporting News at the NBA games in Paris 2023.
“He was one of the best forwards/fivesters, he could play both positions. What he did for European basketball was incredible. What he achieved in the NBA, he had a great career. I’m very happy for him. It was always tough to play against him it’s only right that (the lakers) retire his jersey he’s had a career in the hall of fame.
Dragic credited Gasol and other European legends with breaking down the barrier preventing overseas players from reaching the NBA.
“When you play in the NBA, it’s easy to forget the players before us,” Dragic continued. “When Drazen Petrovic, Vlade Divac and Toni Kukoc came into the league it was a bit different. European players didn’t have many chances so they had to fight for them.
“They helped Pau, helped me and now we can see European players dominate. Giannis [Antetokounmpo]Luke [Doncic], [Nikola] Jokic, these are the guys who are the NBA’s MVPs. It’s pretty awesome to see how European basketball has influenced the NBA.”
Former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah also shared some kind words on behalf of Gasol.
“Pau was a special talent,” Noah told The Sporting News.
“Very skillful, very competitive. I was very happy to share the pitch with him. He’s an even better person off the pitch. He’s always looking after others, always supporting the younger guys. I only have great words to say. It’s tough. We lost to him in the Eurobasket final (2011) but he was a true champion at the highest level.”
When Gasol retired, he left his mark on the NBA record books. He ranked in the top 40 all-time in scoring, the top 30 all-time in total rebounds, and the top 25 all-time in blocking.
Gasol’s legacy extends well beyond his 18 seasons in the world’s top league. His career served as a bridge for European players to reach the NBA.