The people of Sant Boi, Barcelona are truly honored that their hometown kid will soon be immortalized by one of the greatest franchises in basketball.
And their honoring just came in first for the one and only Pau Gasol.
Gasol, 42, stands as the greatest cager in Spanish basketball. Before taking his talents to the NBA in 2001, he already stormed FC Barcelona and helped the program for three years.
The retired big man was also the face of the Spanish international basketball team’s glory years, leading his nation to a World Cup championship in 2006, two Olympic Silver medals, and three top finishes in FIBA EuroBasket.
The big man is slated to rise atop the pantheon of the Los Angeles Lakers all-time greats in their franchise history, as he aided the club to reach three-straight NBA Finals appearances and capture back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 with the late great Kobe Bryant.
Gasol’s contributions to wearing jersey no. 16 will be officially carved into the franchise’s history books on Tuesday, Mar. 7, as the Lakers face the Memphis Grizzlies.
