Chicago (USA), (EFE).- The Spanish Pau Gasol was officially included in the new members of the NBA Hall of Fame along with the German Dirk Nowitzki, the Frenchman Tony Parker and Dwayne Wade, among others, reported the NBA in a statement.
Gasol was included in the list of finalists on February 16 at the All-Star in Salt Lake City and the official announcement of his entry into the Hall of Fame was this Saturday during the NCAA Final Four in Houston.
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame were coaches Becky Hammon and Gregg Popovich, a legend for the San Antonio Spurs and the US national team.
When will the Pau Gasol ceremony be?
The ceremony will be held on August 12 in Springfield (Massacchusetts) at the ‘Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’.
Gasol played 18 seasons in the NBA, with the Memphis Grizzlies, Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Spanish center played 1,226 games in the NBA (1,150 starts) and managed 17 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
In the postseason, Gasol played in 136 games (122 starting in the starting five) and averaged 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocks.
Gasol was a two-time NBA champion and rookie of the year in 2002.
One of the best Europeans in history
These figures over 18 seasons place him among the best European players in NBA history along with other very prominent names such as Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Drazen Petrovic and Arvydas Sabonis.
The Spaniard also left his mark in the NBA through unforgettable moments such as his friendship with the late Kobe Bryant.
Fans also remember the memorable jump start against his brother Marc at the 2015 All-Star game.
For his part, Nowitzki was NBA champion in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks, Wade won the ring in 2006, 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat, as well as losing the 2011 final against the Texans themselves.
Tony Parker formed a legendary trio with Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan on the Spurs, NBA champions in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.