On the evening of October 5, Beijing time, the famous Spanish basketball player Paulo Gasol announced his retirement, ending his nearly 23-year career.
Gasol plays as a big forward, fledgling at FC Barcelona, is famous in the American Professional League (NBA), international competition, and has been the leader of Spanish basketball for many years.
Throughout his career, he participated in 5 Olympic Games, helping the team win 2 silver (2008 Beijing, 2012 London) and 1 bronze (Rio 2016). He also won 1 World Championship and 3 European Championships with the team.
As for the club, he has won two NBA titles with the Lakers and three La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Due to his age, Gasol has been plagued by injuries in recent years. It is not easy to persist until the end of the season. Winning La Liga again after 20 years is perhaps his best retirement gift.
After the Tokyo Olympics this year, Gasol first announced his retirement from the national team. After two months of deliberation, he decided not to renew his contract with Barcelona and officially ended his playing career.
"I'm going to retire from professional basketball and looking back on so many years of experience, it's been a tough decision. But I've thought it through. Gasol said at a news conference.
However, his basketball life is not over. Gasol revealed that he has been groping for the road to basketball after retiring over the years. He has invested in a professional basketball club "to find his niche and develop new projects."
'As a player, my career is coming to an end, but there's still a lot to be done.
At the same time, Gasol also mentioned his former opponent, teammate, and friend, American basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, at the press conference on the same day. The two worked together in 2009 and 1010 to bring two championship trophies to the Lakers.
"Here, I need to mention Kobe in particular. I really, really hope he's here today," Gasol choked up at one point, "but life is just very unfair at times." It was he who taught me how to be a better leader, a better competitor, and a winner. ”
Just when the Los Angeles Times revealed that the Lakers will retire gasol's No. 16 jersey at the right time, a clip of Kobe Bryant's interview before his death was found by netizens @ Los Angeles Basketball.
At that time, Bryant said categorically that his good brother's jersey would definitely rise in the Staps Center, "There is no argument, when Gasol retires, his jersey will hang next to me." I couldn't get those two championships without him, and the Lakers couldn't get those two championships. Everyone knows that and I'm looking forward to the day he stands in the middle of the pitch and speaks. ”
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