Former Portland Trail Blazers big man Pau Gasol announces his retirement

Former NBA star forward/center and brief member of the Portland Trail Blazers, Pau Gasol, announced his retirement from basketball Tuesday.

"“I’m going to retire from professional basketball,” Gasol said in a press conference in Spain, via ESPN. “It’s a difficult decision after so many years, but it’s a decision that I really thought over.”"

Gasol was drafted third overall in the 2001 draft by the Atlanta Hawks, traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for amongst others, former Blazer Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Gasol was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008, sending his brother Marc Gasol to the Grizzlies along with other players. He was a member of the Lakers from 2008-2014. After Los Angeles, he spent time with Chicago (2014-2016), San Antonio (2016-2019), and Milwaukee (2019). He signed a one-year contract with Portland in the summer of 2019, but never appeared on the court in a Portland jersey and was waived that November, after unsuccessfully rehabbing a left foot injury. The Blazers later announced he would join the team as an assistant coach. He would also return to Spain.

Gasol won numerous awards while playing in the NBA, including NBA rookie of the year, was a member of the 2002 NBA All-Rookie First team, six-time All-Star, two time All-NBA second Team, two-time All-NBA Third Team, and the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2012), which is awarded to a player, coach or staff member who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community (this award is named after former NBA commissioner J. Walter Kennedy). Gasol won two championships with the Lakers.

The next stop for Gasol likely could be the Hall-of-Fame, with his career numbers of, 17 points and 9.2 rebounds while in the NBA. He played for various teams in Spain before declaring for the draft. With those teams, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. He is one of four NBA players with more than 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 3,500 assists, and 1,500 blocks.