When and where was Pau Gasol born?
Pau Gasol Sáez entered the world on the 6th of July 1980 at Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona. His mother Marisa worked there as a medical doctor while his father Agustí served as a nurse administrator.
Questions about Pau Gasol
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Pau Gasol leave medical school to play basketball?
After one year of medical studies at the University of Barcelona, he left university to focus entirely on his professional career. Basketball eventually took precedence over medicine despite his initial desire to become a doctor and find a cure for AIDS.
Which team selected Pau Gasol in the 2001 NBA draft?
The Atlanta Hawks selected Pau Gasol third overall in the 2001 NBA draft during the first round. Their rights were immediately traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jamaal Tinsley plus their 27th pick.
How many championships has Pau Gasol won with the Los Angeles Lakers?
Pau Gasol won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers by defeating Orlando Magic in the 2009 Finals and repeating as champions after Game 7 against Boston Celtics in 2010. He averaged 14.7 points per game during the 2009 series and scored 19 points with 18 rebounds in the decisive 2010 Game 7.
What international awards did Pau Gasol receive from FIBA?
He became MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship after helping Spain win gold and claimed Most Valuable Player honors at both 2009 and 2015 FIBA EuroBasket tournaments. On the 7th of September 2017 he became FIBA EuroBasket's all-time leading scorer passing Tony Parker with 1,033 points before finishing with 1,183 total points scored in the competition.