Farewell to the Least-Appreciated Laker Champion of All Time
And maybe for the first time, the four-time All-Star big man put on his "big-boy pants" and decided what's best for him is to move on and be appreciated instead of playing the role of whipping boy like he had been with the Lakers.
Gasol, 34, said in a tweet that it wasn't an easy decision to leave Los Angeles to sign with the Chicago Bulls, but it appeared to be an easy one.
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Gasol, who inked a three-year deal worth a reported $22 million, likely didn't sign with the Bulls because they're a championship contender, especially given the glaring questionable health of Derrick Rose the past two seasons. If Gasol wanted a shot at a ring, he would have signed with the champion San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bulls, however, give Gasol the best chance of making an immediate, significant impact and a change of scenery.
That's because things were downright gut-wrenching for Gasol the past three seasons in Los Angeles. It was bad enough that he was willing to leave a city he loved by walking away from two reported Lakers offers—two years at $23 million and three years at $29 million—to take less money with the Bulls.
Can you blame Gasol? After being celebrated for helping the Lakers win back-to-back championships, he has been disrespected and underutilized.
Gasol is quite possibly the least-appreciated Lakers champion of all time.
As quickly as he helped hang two more banners in the Lakers' rafters, Gasol seemingly was on his way out, embroiled in constant trade rumors. Remember, it was Gasol who kept the Lakers' 16th championship alive with his 19-point, 18-rebound effort in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics when Kobe Bryant shot just 25 percent from the field.
Even though Gasol was for all intents and purposes traded in November 2011 to the Rockets as part of a proposed trade for point guard Chris Paul—a deal that then-NBA commissioner David Stern would later put the kibosh on—Gasol maintained his professionalism and acted like nothing happened. Trade rumors seemingly never left, yet Gasol still kept his head down and produced.
Other players, like Lamar Odom, couldn't.
Sure, some may say that being traded is part of the business and that being paid the sixth- or seventh-highest salary in each of the last four seasons (last year, Gasol earned $19,285,850) means he should be open to microscopic criticism. But it's hard to think of a name that has come up more in the past three seasons than Gasol's, which is mind-boggling given that he still has plenty left in the tank; he is still a top-five all-around big man in the game (last season per 36 minutes, he averaged 19.9 points, a career high 11.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists).
Part of Gasol's weakness is that he cares. Sometimes, too much.
When injuries hit Gasol, he took them the hardest. I remember in 2011 in the Lakers locker room, hearing his voice quiver and seeing his eyes start to water as he was peppered night after night with questions surrounding his hamstring and questions of his manhood—both in and out of the locker room.
It would be hard for anyone to shake those comments. Too soft. Too weak. European. It also didn't help that he missed a combined 72 games the past three seasons as he was inflicted with a spate of injuries—hamstring, plantar fasciitis, shoulder, torn tendons, a concussion and knee woes.
Yet he still loved Los Angeles and the Lakers organization despite the lack of love back.
"I don't look at this as the last ride, but you never know," said Gasol to reporters during media day last season on his name constantly being mentioned in trade rumors. "That's why you have to fully commit to the present, the season, and make the best of it and see what comes out. Nothing new. I've learned to live my life on a daily basis, and try to have fun in the process."
Gasol made his fair share of sacrifices but was later criticized for them.
When Andrew Bynum emerged, Gasol adjusted his game. When Dwight Howard made his pit stop, Gasol, again, adjusted his game. It was always what was better for the team. Yet some saw him as not stepping up to the challenge and being passive.
In 2013, then-Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said during media day, "Pau is probably the best offensive center in the league and the most talented big guy in the league."
Yet for D'Antoni, talent meant benching Gasol. That seemingly was the last straw.
Gasol's ungraceful exit from the Lakers franchise was a depressing one.
He endured this past season, which saw the Lakers finish 27–55, the sixth-worst record in the league and the franchise's worst record since 1957–58—before they had even moved to Los Angeles. Bet Gasol never thought he'd endure a more painful season than his rookie campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that finished with a 23-59 record—third-worst in the NBA.
Think again.
His final stat line as a Laker: nine points and four rebounds in a 124-112 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. He finished his Lakers career in civilian clothes with eight DNPs (vertigo).
In a league where there are few remaining players who conduct themselves with as much old-school humility (think the Spurs' Tim Duncan), Gasol deserved more. He was an afterthought to a franchise that still needs his nightly double-double capability, offensive repertoire, passing prowess and high basketball IQ.
The champion San Antonio Spurs, perennial contender Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls sure didn't perceive him as one.
How adamant was Bryant to management that he needed to re-sign his partner? #vamos #juntos #lakercorazon #vino. Were there any banners hanging from Staples Center asking Gasol to stay? Nope.
It's unfortunate to see the Spaniard walk out of Los Angeles as an afterthought, but hopefully when it's all said and done, the future Hall of Famer will get his rightful adulation, replete with a ceremony and his jersey raised in the Staples Center rafters.
He deserves it.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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