Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol i Sáez (born July 6, 1980) is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain. Gasol was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2001 NBA Draft, but his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He currently holds the Memphis Grizzlies franchise records for career games played, minutes played, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, offensive, defensive, and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers, and points.After seven seasons with the team, Gasol was traded to the Lakers on February 1, 2008. His younger brother, Marc Gasol, who was involved in that trade, is also a professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.
Pau Gasols brother
Marc Gasol Sáez (born January 29, 1985) is a Spanish professional basketball player who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft. He stands 7'1" tall and is the younger brother of current Lakers power forward Pau Gasol.Gasol was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft. On February 1, 2008, his draft rights were traded by the Lakers to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a trade package that included his older brother, Pau, who went to the Lakers. No other instance is known where an NBA player was traded for his brother. On June 23, 2008 he signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Gasol met his rookie season with success, scoring 10-plus points in 10 straight games on 49-for-84 shooting in October 2008.Gasol broke the franchise rookie record of the highest field goal percentage at the end of the season by shooting 53%. The previous record was held by his older brother Pau, who shot 51.8% from the field his rookie season.
United for the Olympics
FIBA World Cup
In the early years of the FIBA World Cup, Spain struggled to establish a steady presence as a competitor. Between 1950 and 1970, the team only qualified once. Then, beginning in 1974 Spain developed into a serious competitor and regularly finished among the tournaments top performers for years to come.
At the 2006 FIBA World Championship, the Spanish team finally achieved the ultimate victory, the greatest success in its history. The date was 3 September 2006, as Spain won the gold medal game against the Greek national team. Held in the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, the game ended with a final score of 70–47. Pau Gasol was named the tournament MVP, and Jorge Garbajosa also made the All-Tournament team. Shortly afterwards, the team were awarded with the 2006 Prince of Asturias Award in Sports.
