The 40-year-old major man started his professional basketball career with Barcelona at 1998-99, spending Liga ACB seasons with the team and also playing with all the group at the first season of this Euroleague (2000-01), prior to making the leap into the NBA using the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2001-02 season.
“I am pleased to come back to the club at which I started, and I am enthusiastic about this new opportunity: I aspire to donate to the initial group very soon. I would like to thank Barça and its own specialized personnel for making it feasible to combine them” Gasol said in a statement.
Barcelona’s trainer, Sarunas Jasikevicius, was Gasol’s teammate throughout the 2000-01 year when Barcelona won titles at the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto along with the Liga ACB. Gasol was MVP of the two finals.
On Saturday, Gasol had denied Spanish press reports he had reached a deal with Barcelona, writing on Twitter that he stayed”centered in my recovery and I am not prepared to contact competing only yet.”
Gasol has been attempting to recover his fitness to be prepared to perform at his fifth Olympic Games. He said a year ago he had to play this year to give himself a chance of making it into Tokyo. He’s a three-time Olympic medalist with Spain.
Gasol, a six-time NBA All-Star, won two championships with an Los Angeles Lakers after being traded to Los Angeles out of Memphis at 2008. He also played with its Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks and has career averages of 17.0 points and 9.2 rebounds.
He played in the NBA at 2018-19, finishing the season with Milwaukee.
