Pau, two-time NBA champion with the Lakers, three Olympic medals, is in Milan-Cortina: “The energy you can breathe here is beautiful”. Then he talks about NBA Europe, LeBron James and more
Pau Gasol is unstoppable these days. In Italy for the torch, in Los Angeles for the All Star Game, in Milan for figure skating, in Bormio for ski mountaineering where he saw a historic gold medal for Spain (tomorrow where, in Australia?). Between transfers, he found time to talk about the Winter Games and basketball, with the NBA Europe project in which he plays a role.
Shall we choose our three favorite moments from these Games?
“I was lucky enough to see the team figure skating competition, with Malinin being decisive for the victory of the United States. I had never seen him live, it struck me. Francesca Lollobrigida’s victory in the 3,000 meters, on her birthday. And, again for the long track, the 5,000 won by the Norwegian Eintrem, in the race in which Lorello was bronze.”
“Lollobrigida: her being a mother, her birthday, it was all fantastic. It impressed me, I saw figure and speed skating with my family, it was very special to share these emotions with them. Italy is doing great things and I like everything about you: the people, the culture, the food obviously, the energy you can feel in the cities. My family already wants to come back.”
What are the objectives of the first of those elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission?
“Represent the athletes, think about their well-being. Sport will change a lot in the next 5 years, we must be proactive and prevent problems.”
” Oklahoma City has a better chance for the title but watch out for San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland, Boston and New York
Let’s talk about working for NBA Europe. Will Milan have a team, perhaps linked to Milan, with Gerry Cardinale as a key man?
“We certainly hope it will be the best basketball league in Europewith a new model. Milan will be one of the key cities for the original project, which will be formed with 12 reference cities in Europe.”
What will be the role of Ettore Messina? You were together with the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs…
“I believe that all the most important figures in Italian basketball will be involved, and Ettore is one of them. I don’t know who the owners will be, but it will be interesting, there is a lot of interest in every city.”
Pau Gasol
Spanish legend
Paul Gasol was born in Barcelona in 1980. He won a world gold, two silvers and an Olympic bronze with Spain. With the Lakers, two NBA titles
Two predictions at the end. Who will win the NBA title?
“Oklahoma City has the best chance of all, it is the strongest, it has the most options and the best record in the West. San Antonio is young, but is full of complete and dynamic players, then it beat OKC four times out of five. The third team with aspirations in the West for me is Denver. In the East, let’s see if Detroit will continue to be so strong, it is very young, it lacks experience at playoff level. For me Cleveland, Boston and New York may have more options.”
As a former Laker, what will LeBron James do in 2026-27?
“It seems he continues to play, he is certainly still at a very high level at 41 years old, athletically he is extraordinary, he is confirming his legend as one of the best players in history. But ultimately I don’t know if he has the answer either…”.
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