Ahead of Pau Gasol’s jersey retirement ceremony on March 7 in Los Angeles, NBA displayed a 68 square-foot Los Angeles Lakers jersey covering the façade on the Sant Boi’s del Llobregat (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) City Hall, Pau’s hometown, in conjunction with the local government and the Gasol Foundation, Pau and Marc Gasol’s non-profit dedicated to fighting childhood obesity. The giant jersey featuring Pau’s iconic no. 16 on it’s back will be displayed between from March 3-9 in honour of Gasol’s career in gold and purple and as a nod to the official ceremony to be hosted during the game between the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies (10 p.m. ET live on NBA League Pass) on March 7 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Earlier this season, the Lakers announced the retirement of Pau’s no. 16 jersey during the home game versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Pau’s first NBA team. Gasol played for the Lakers throughout seven seasons (2008-14) and helped Los Angeles to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. During his time with the Lakers, he was selected for three of his six career NBA All-Stars and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2011, as well as the All-NBA Third Team in 2009 and 2010. See NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s statement on Pau’s career after announcing his retirement here.
As part of the jersey retirement celebration, the NBA will conduct a series of Jr. NBA clinics for more than 100 local children ages 12-18 and Special Olympics athletes in coordination with the Gasol Foundation and the City of Sant Boi. The clinics, conducted by NBA EME Basketball Operations and Gasol Foundation staff, will impact more than 100 young athletes ages 12-18 and will be celebrated next Sunday, March 5 at Parc de la Muntanyeta streetbasketball courts in Sant Boi de Llobregat. The Gasol Foundation recently refurbished the courts.
