Former Lakers great Pau Gasol, 41, retiring after 18 NBA seasons

Wishing his “older brother” Kobe Bryant could be there by his side, Pau Gasol finally put an end to a career that went “way beyond my dreams and expectations.” Gasol announced his retirement from basketball after a career that lasted more than two decades and earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain’s national team.

“In the end, playing until the age of 41, with everything that I have done, I think that’s not bad,” Gasol said.

Gasol had already announced his farewell from international basketball in August after Spain lost to the United States in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Games, his fifth Olympics. Gasol had been with Spanish club Barcelona since February. His career had stalled before that because a left-foot injury that lingered and kept him from playing for nearly two years.

“I’m going to retire,” Gasol said. “It’s a difficult decision after so many years, but it’s a decision that I really thought over.” Gasol choked up when mentioning Bryant, his former Lakers teammate, who died in a helicopter crash last year. “I really would have liked for him to be here,” Gasol said. “I have always considered him my older brother, so thank you, Kobe.”

Gasol won two NBA titles with the Lakers and averaged 17 points and 9.2 rebounds in 1,226 regular-season games with five NBA teams, including the Grizzlies, Bulls, Spurs and Bucks. He was the No. 3 pick in the 2001 draft, selected by the Hawks and traded to Memphis. Gasol last played in the NBA in 2019.

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