Pau Gasol's Career Night Shows Why He's a Perfect Fit with Chicago Bulls

CHICAGO — Pau Gasol came to Chicago this summer to revitalize his career. So far, he’s done more than that. In the midst of one of his best seasons ever, the 34-year-old had a career night against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, scoring a career-high 46 points and 18 rebounds in the Bulls' 95-87 win.

Gasol has broken the 40-point barrier twice before, when he was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. His previous career high of 44 was set on March 28, 2006 against the Seattle SuperSonics. He scored 43 against the Golden State Warriors on January 11, 2008, less than a month before he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But those two games had one thing in common: Gasol’s team lost. They didn’t do that on Saturday night, instead coming away with a much-needed win, snapping a two-game losing skid.

Gasol was well aware that this was his first 40-point performance that ended with a W, and was humble about his monstrous night:

“I don’t usually like guys having that amount of points,” Gasol said. “It takes away the rhythm of the other players. I’m all about balance and team game.”

That focus is what has kept Gasol productive into the advanced stages of his career. But sometimes, a game calls to be taken over. With Derrick Rose out with knee soreness and Jimmy Butler having an off night offensively (nine points on 2-of-9 shooting), that responsibility fell to Gasol. He showed he was still up to that task.

“It just kind of happened,” Gasol said. “You hit the first few shots, your teammates look for you, you get in rhythm. Tonight it was me, the next game it may be someone else. We have so many weapons. They took away Jimmy’s looks and tried to double him all over the floor, so I was the one open.”

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The Bulls have not had much luck attracting stars over the years, but the one they managed to lure has proven to be a perfect fit. He’s already the best free-agent signing in franchise history—not a high bar to clear for a franchise that’s gone after, and missed on, names like Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Tracy McGrady over the years. Bulls radio producer Jeff Mangurten relays this stat:

Even as a 14-year veteran, Gasol has given the Bulls a jolt of energy, and they’ve given his career the final act he was craving for the last three disappointing years with the Lakers.

He came to Chicago because he wanted to be a key piece on a contender. The Bulls wanted him because they needed a consistent scorer in the frontcourt. Both sides have lived up to their end of the bargain, and it’s resulted in a late-career renaissance for Gasol.

“When we brought him in and we talked to him, you could tell how highly motivated Pau was,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Saturday. “At this stage in his career and as accomplished as he is, he was eager to go. We watched him play over the summer and we could see how motivated he was. That got him in great shape and I think he was in a really good place mentally.”

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There’s not a lot Gasol hasn’t done over his career, but as it winds down, he’d like it to be closer to the good times than the more forgettable years. He’s been an All-Star four times, and he’s on track for a fifth selection this season. He’s been a key player on a team that’s won two championships, and the Bulls will be very much in the hunt this spring. Coming to Chicago has been everything he envisioned when he signed, and he hasn’t felt this comfortable in years.

“I was pretty comfortable the years that we won championships with the Lakers,” Gasol said. “I was comfortable at some points in Memphis when I was the focal point of our team, even though we couldn’t really perform in the playoffs. And I’m comfortable now. I’m in a great position. Great teammates all around, a system that fits me well and puts me in great position to score and facilitate.”

Gasol must be comfortable if he’s having the best game of his career 14 years in, at age 34, when there was plenty of reason to believe his best years were behind him.

“It’s humbling,” he said. “It’s very satisfying. Playing well at this point in my career, not a lot of guys are able to do that. So I’m very happy and fortunate that I can continue to do it. I take pride in it.”

Sean Highkin covers the Chicago Bulls for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @highkin