By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pau Gasol, a Hall of Famer and European basketball legend, is strongly considered as the favorite to be proposed the position of CEO of the NBA Europe league, Eurohoops has exclusively learned.
While the NBA Europe is still a plan being explored, the name of Pau Gasol is gaining traction in discussions as perhaps the ideal candidate to lead this new league from a top executive position.
“Pau Gasol is a person with very strong links to both NBA and European basketball while being one of the most respected and popular figures in the sport on a global scale,” an NBA source told Eurohoops. “His accomplishments speak for themselves. He has already established himself as a leader and the prospect of him taking over as CEO of the new league has universal approval among NBA governors.”
“His low-post moves were killer. Without him, the Lakers wouldn’t have won sh–t in 2009 and 2010,” the NBA source added.
A member of the International Olympic Committee and president of the Gasol Foundation, Pau Gasol expressed his willingness to have an executive role with an NBA organization after his retirement in 2021. During his career in the NBA, the Spanish great also served as Vice President of the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association).
Gasol won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He was a six-time NBA All-Star in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016.
On an international level, Gasol had one of the most successful runs ever by a player, leading Spain to the 2006 World Championship, the 2009, 2011 and 2015 EuroBasket titles, claiming tournament MVP in the 2006, 2009 and 2015. He also won silver medal in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games along with the bronze in 2016.