Pau Gasol: "The European player has removed the soft label"

Pau Gasol has rediscovered at the age of 42 what a "calm and relaxed" summer is.

The father of the best generation of Spanish basketball players now observes from a certain distance the great relief that a team faces that this Thursday begins its journey in the Eurobasket.

After 216 international matches and 11 medals (four golds, four silvers and three bronzes) between Europeans, World Cups and Games, Gasol has divided his time between his family, his foundation and a new passion, golf.

Question

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What have you discovered in golf?

Answer

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A certain peace, which is something that has come in handy.

It is also challenging to learn a new sport that has many layers.

It has attracted me a lot when I have had time to dedicate to it, because you need to spend many hours on it to improve and enjoy it.

A door has opened and I have entered a fascinating world, which many people are passionate about and unknown to.

At the same time it is a competitive challenge that has allowed me to revive the desire to improve, work and effort.

It is a fun and very educational activity.

It may seem easy when you see a club and a ball, but for the shot to go more or less well, many factors intervene.

P.

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What do you think of this Spain with such a different aspect?

R.

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I think that the important thing is that the identity is maintained, that it be a cohesive group and that they know how to be together.

It is more relevant because there are many new faces and the change is very big.

More than half of the players [seven of the 12] have never been on a big date like this.

Scariolo gives continuity.

It is clear that Spain is not the favorite to win the tournament, but we must compete.

It is also the time to learn.

P.

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Do you think that this basketball team was a precursor to other teams in other sports in terms of locker room unity?

What was the secret?

R.

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Respect.

Affection.

Humility, knowing that we were all there to add and to assume each one a certain role with the aim of winning medals.

The cohesion that existed between us and the respect.

It was truly the feeling of being with family.

Coming to the national team for us meant coming to enjoy ourselves, and we quickly became a group of friends who got together almost every summer to play, to work and to win, to represent our country.

We competed and at the same time we had a good time, we showed that both things could be done at the same time.

Now it is true that this is almost a new group, with many young people who have to write their own path, but I would like to continue maintaining that identity and that tradition.

Pau Gasol celebrates a basket against France at Eurobasket 2015

P.

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The Eurobasket brings together Jokic, Doncic, Antetokounmpo... They are European players with great weight in their NBA teams and stars in the competition.

Is it the moment when the European player is more important than ever in the American league?

R

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Yes I think so.

The European player in the NBA has become a player with fundamentals, with knowledge of what it means to play as a team, with talent, with a good shot.

There was a time when we had the soft label.

Not anymore.

Today the European in the NBA has removed that label.

He is an often dominant player, competitive, even star, franchise player.

Anteto and Jokic have shown it in the last four years, each being chosen twice as the best of the season.

You have expressed significant dominance.

It is something parallel to the growth of the sport itself, much more global.

The United States is still the strongest team, the favorite when it comes to the World Cup or the Olympic Games, but we have seen that they can already stay out of that first place.

They have lost titles and they take it more seriously.

Today there are more equal opportunities.

Many selections are up there with character and attitude.

More information

Pau Gasol, a universal player

P.

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The style of play in the United States, with fast attacks, individual plays and many triples, is far from the European...

R.

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It is a matter of nuance of the type of athlete.

In the United States we see a more individualistic type of game, which is aimed at extolling the talent of a star.

It is the profile that dominates there because most of the best players in the world are in the NBA.

The European game is not as athletic or as fast, but it is more balanced and more focused on the whole, on collective functioning, and at the same time it is a basketball with more ball movement, which is also very attractive.

P.

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Do you think that basketball today has triggered the importance of physique versus talent as a determining element?

R.

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Yes, especially in the United States.

Today much less contact is allowed, there is more freedom of movement and therefore the game is also more fluid, also to protect the players from injuries.

It is one more game for

, of running and throwing.

Sometimes it is even played with four

.

As for the dynamism and speed of the game, I would say that today's basketball is more athletic.

In terms of contact and hardness, no.

In Europe it is a bit different because refereeing allows more physical contact.

The game is not that dynamic.

Pau Gasol in front of Kevin Durant in a match between Spain and the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Eric Gay (AP)

P.

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Which teams do you see as stronger for the Eurobasket?

R.

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For me a Eurobasket is almost more difficult than a World Cup because there are usually no easy games.

In a World Cup you can get a fairly affordable rival.

In a European, you can't relax because that costs you defeat.

It will be a very competitive tournament.

I really like seeing how these highly talented players who have stratospheric contracts in the NBA make those commitments to their countries.

I value it very much.

It will be a very attractive date.

Serbia, Slovenia and Greece are very strong.

Next year there is a World Cup and the next, Games.

That is also on the minds of the players.

Spain will compete.

Surely none of the favorite teams will want to see us in front.

P.

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What does it mean to retire your jersey with the Lakers and share that distinction with myths like Magic Johnson, Kareem and Kobe Bryant?

R.

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It is a great honor that to this day I still think it will be difficult to assimilate.

It is a huge recognition.

I still don't get the idea.

I remember many people who have helped me in my career.

It overwhelms me emotionally.

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