Pau Gasol: Raise the Jersey to the Rafters, and Bring Him Back to the Lakers for One More Ride

Recently, Pau Gasol was mentioned in the media as the next potential candidate to have his jersey hung from the rafters at Staples Center. And just this week, Gasol said that he'd consider putting off retirement if he could play one last time in the purple & gold. 

Pau Gasol Wants to Finish in the Purple & Gold

The retiring of Pau's jersey, to this die-hard Lakers fan, is a no-brainer. He is one of my favorite players to don the famous purple & gold, and I would love to see him retire as a Laker. I believe he'll be in the Hall of Fame before it is all said and done, and for good measure, I think he is the greatest power forward to ever suit up for the Lakers.

 

Pau Sporting One of His 2 Lakers Championship Rings

First point of business: should the Lakers raise number 16 to the rafters with the other Lakers greats? In a word, Yes. Pau will be elected into the Hall of Fame one day, and many of his best years were in a Lakers uniform. Pau and Kobe Bryant were a fun one-two punch from 2008 through 2014, and their chemistry together was obvious.

Bryant & Gasol - Forever Linked in Lakers Glory

The numbers certainly bare out: while with the Lakers, and serving as a secondary scorer behind Kobe, Pau averaged 18 points, 10+ rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. If you throw in the nearly 2 blocks per game, and the solid overall defense he played, there doesn't seem much room for debate.

Pau put up better scoring numbers while in Memphis, but there he was the number one option. In fact, for many years he was the only option. While in Memphis, it didn't take long for Pau to establish himself as he won the Rookie of the year award in 2001-2002.

Gasol Holding his NBA Rooking of the Year Award in 2002

Over the course of his career, his statistics and accolades make a case for greatness. Over 18 seasons and 1200 games played, Pau averaged 17 points, better than 9 boards, 3+ assists and 1.6 blocks per game. Playing for Spain, he won a FIBA World Cup title, three EuroBasket titles, two Olympic silver medals, and one bronze medal.

Kobe & Pau Fighting for Position in the 2008 Olympics

Other career accomplishments include two championships with the Lakers, a six time All Star nominee, a four time All NBA , a 2001-2002 All Rookie Team nod, and his Rookie of the Year award. His career totals are definitely Hall-worthy: nearly 21,000 points, over 11,000 boards, 1,941 blocks and nearly 4,000 assists.

Gasol Blocks A Shot by Kevin Garnett in the 2010 NBA Finals

Not bad for the forgotten position of power forward. In the ever-changing NBA environment, where the emphasis is three points shots, fast breaks, and the de-emphasizing of post play, Pau played a solid 4 position.

He excelled in the playoffs. In the two seasons in which the Lakers won back to back championships in the Pau era, his numbers exceeded his regular season stats. During the grueling 2010 playoffs alone Pau averaged 19.6 points, 11 boards, over 2 blocks and 3.5 assists per game.

Nothing Came Easy for the Lakers and Gasol in the 2010 Playoffs

His performance in the playoffs that season was even more impressive considering he matched up against the likes of Serge Ibaka, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Paul Milsap, and of course, the Boston frontcourt players: Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Glen "Big Baby" Davis.

When the Lakers acquired Gasol, it breathed new life into the organization, and gave Kobe a legitimate 2nd shot at the title.

I remember where I was on that February day in 2008. ESPN broke the news that the Lakers picked up Gasol in a trade (thank you Jerry West, then Grizzly GM). My mother, another big Lakers fan, and I were at a Yardhouse restaurant in Pasadena, California. I remember thinking if we didn't win it all that year, it would only be a matter of time.

I was a little concerned because I felt Pau was a little soft for a 7'0 power forward. Proving me wrong, in one of his first games with the Lakers, the Spaniard had to guard Shaquille O' Neal when he a member of the Phoenix Suns. Andrew Bynum was injured, and Pau had to man the middle against Shaq, and his late-career, ever-expanding girth. Pau held his own scoring 29 points against O'Neal and the rest of the Sun's front court. My concerns were cast aside.

Shaq and Gasol Square off February 2008

Now to tackle my 2nd point: best power forward in Lakers history. My criteria: 

-team and personal accomplishments whilst in a Laker uniform

-popularity of the player with the fans

-If the player was in his athletic peak.

Gasol Scores Against Orlando in the 2009 NBA Finals

Pau's resume? 

2 NBA titles with the Lakers, he played in his prime for the Lake Show for 6 1/2 seasons, he had 3 All-Star selections as a Laker, and he was a 3 time All-NBA selection during his LA years. The stats I mentioned earlier cement my argument. He was the best power forward, during his prime, who ever played for the Lakers.

Here are my also ran's and the reasons why they fall short of the best Lakers power forward honor:

*Karl "the Mailman" Malone - Malone had many great years in the NBA, but his one season with the Lakers wasn't one of them. His line of 13 points, and nearly 9 boards were a game were respectable considering he was 40 years old, and he was playing with a full-ensemble all-star cast. But he was nearly a decade removed from his prime, missed more than 2 games for the first time in his 19 seasons (he missed 40!), and was injured during the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.

Karl Malone

*Happy Hairston - The late Hairston was a beast in the paint for the Lakers averaging around 13 boards over a six year period from 1969 to 1975. He was a decent scorer too, but not on the same level as Pau.

Happy Hairston and Phil Jackson

*Rudy La Russo - La Russo was a poor man's power forward during the early and mid 1960's  for the Lakers. Undersized, but gritty, La Russo put up fine numbers, but he lost points to Elgin Baylor & Jerry West. Baylor also snatced a lot of rebounds that would normally go to a power forward or a center, further depleting La Russo's stats.
 

Rudy La Russo Battles Tommy Heinsohn & Bill Russell of the Celtics

*Maurice Lucas - People tend to forget that "Mo" spent one year in the purple & gold during the 1985-1986 season. Far from his prime, Lucas's numbers suffered playing alongside the Showtime Lakers. There were also tales that his teammates didn't get along with him, and that they would rather have played with the guy whom he replaced (Bob McAdoo).

Maurice Lucas with Magic Johnson & James Worthy

*Bob McAdoo - McAdoo was also a little past his prime while playing in the Showtime era from 1982 through 1985. But his numbers were solid, and he did help contribute to the hoisting of two banners in '82 and '85, but he was Kareem's primary backup, so he played center most of the time.

Bob McAdoo Squaring Up Against Larry Bird

*AC Green & Kurt Rambis - the two most notable forwards during the Showtime era, these two were the hustlers, the nitty gritty players, who would do whatever was needed. These scrappers were the perfect contrast to the elegance of the Lakers fast break offense. And while both were key components in acquiring championships during the 1980's, neither player would put up numbers to rival Gasol's stats.

A.C. Green Scoring on Moses Malone

Kurt Rambis Battling the Celtics in the NBA Finals

*Robert Horry - technically he was a small forward who played a stretch 4, but he was thrust into the power forward role quite often because of his length, his defense, and his ability to stretch the floor. Horry certainly held down the position admirably when he was forced to play it.

The Biggest Three of Robert Horry's Career

*Horace Grant - Another player past his prime when he wore the purple and gold, Grant brought solid play to the 4 spot, pairing with Shaquille O' Neal during the memorable 2000-2001 season. He was not quite the Grant of the Chicago Bulls era, but he did the job he was hired to do. The Lakers liked him so much, they brought him back a few years later to back up Karl Malone.

Horace Grant during the 2000-2001 Season

*Dennis Rodman - In the "what could have been" category, Rodman was fresh off winning his 3rd Bulls Championship when the Lakers signed him during the 1998-99 season. Shaq said something to the affect that "he finally had his thug" to play alongside him. The thug suited up for 23 games before his antics grew tiresome, causing the Lakers to cut him mid-season.

Dennis Rodman

*Elden Campbell - Sort of a stretch to be on this list, but he was with the Lakers for nine years. He had some solid seasons, but in the end, he was a slightly above-average big man who always seemed to be holding something back. Plus he played center quite often.

Elden Campbell

*Anthony Davis - If there's someone who is destined to be the best power forward ever for the Lakers, AD may be that guy. But since he's only been with the club for half a season, and he hasn't had time to build up the accolades and accomplishments that Pau has earned, he's not getting my vote....yet.

Anthony Davis

Final conclusions:

-I think I've made my point for Gasol. Everyone, of course, will have their own opinion. If you compare Gasol's stats to some of the individuals who have their jerseys hanging at Staples Center, you will find that his are better. Stats don't always tell the whole story. But if you consider attributes like a player's contributions to the organization, personal accomplishments, and how well-liked the player was by both teammates and fans, Pau's #16 needs to be raised into the Lakers wall o' fame. But he doesn't really need my endorsement. He already has Kobe's.

Kobe Endorses the Retiring of Pau's Jersey

-As for being the best power forward to wear a Lakers uniform, I will entertain debate and listen to other's opinions, but considering what Pau brought to the team while in his peak years, he gets my vote. He continued to shine on other teams after the Lakers didn't re-sign him in 2014.

Pau Gasol was on the Chicago Bulls from 2014 through 2016

-Does Pau deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? In my opinion, that is an obvious yes. It's not a matter of if, but when.

-Lastly, bring back Gasol for one more turn in the purple & gold? Yes indeed. It would be a fine ending to a great career. Plus it will give my wife and I chance to wear our Gasol jerseys a little more often to the games.

Laker Dave & My Wife Veronica Sporting Our Gasol Jerseys

One final thought not related to Pau Gasol: RIP to former Lakers player Mark McNamara. He was a backup center for the Lakers from 1988 to 1990. He played in 72 regular season games, and 5 playoff games for the team. He passed in April of this year from heart failure.

Mark McNamara