Pau Gasol Wins Eurobasket Gold Medal with Spain

Spain hoisted the gold medal once again and claimed the title of back-to-back European champions with a 98-85 victory over silver medalists France on Sunday in the 2011 Eurobasket tournament final.

Pau Gasol turned in another strong all-around performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal in Sunday's win. This win gives Gasol yet another European medal to go along with a silver and a gold from the last two Eurobasket tournaments.

Spain's backcourt of Juan Carlos Navarro and Jose Calderon was simply too much for France as the two combined for 44 points on the day. Rudy Fernandez and Marc Gasol chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Navarro's artful performance off-the-dribble and killer range from downtown earned him tournament MVP honors.

Redemption for Gasol

In his first batch of competitive basketball since the Dallas series, Pau Gasol looked stellar. He was consistently involving himself in the offense and looked sharp in his attack—a complete 180 from the timid, unsure play we saw during the NBA playoffs.

He moved well around the floor, showed strong command with his back to the basket and shot the long-range jumper quite effectively. He also showed exceptional chemistry with his teammates, looking smooth and fluid on the court.

Gasol played the game we've all become accustomed to seeing: an all-world talent making intelligent decisions with the basketball.

The only game Spain lost during the tournament was a match Gasol sat out to nurse a tweaked left ankle.

Will This Be Enough for Laker Fans?

Overlooking the gaudy win-loss record the Lakers have amassed since the Gasol trade and the two NBA championships delivered in part by Gasol, a growing segment of Laker fans demanded Pau be traded this offseason after his lackluster playoff performance last year.

This reaction was simply that—reactionary—and was driven more by emotion than reason. 

Pau Gasol proved once again in this year's Eurobasket that he is a winner. Against the strongest European competition to date, Gasol played elite basketball and was the unquestioned leader of the Spanish team.

Since becoming a Laker, all Pau's done is win two NBA championships, two Eurobasket gold medals, Eurobasket 2009 MVP honors and an Olympic silver medal.

And if you're only as good as your last impression, it's clear from this year's Eurobasket that the guy can play, the guy can win and, as was made official this Sunday, the guy is a champion.

Laker fans will have to make their own decisions on whether this is enough to return Gasol to their good graces. I've certainly made mine.

On the Lakers, I want winners like Pau.