“The greatest ambassador of basketball from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Europe.” Barcelona’s Mayor, Jaume Collboni, wasn’t exaggerating when he said that about Pau Gasol. The man sure left his mark on the NBA. Two titles, a retired Lakers jersey, and a Hall of Fame spot in 2023. Yet, it always felt like something was missing. That changed on Saturday when Gasol was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 in Bahrain. This wasn’t just another award, it was long-overdue recognition from the international basketball world he helped shape. But that is not the end. Fresh off his FIBA Hall of Fame induction, Pau Gasol received another heartfelt honor this week!

And the recent honor from his country surely made a full life circle for Gasol. In a special ceremony held at the historic Saló de Cent inside Barcelona’s City Hall, Gasol was presented with the prestigious Gold Medal for Sports Merit. The award came straight from Mayor Jaume Collboni himself. And true to form, Gasol didn’t hold back in letting the world know just how much this moment meant to him. In his latest Instagram post, Pau Gasol shared snapshots from the emotional ceremony, proudly wearing the Gold Medal around his neck. While the photos alone were enough to flood the comments with love, it was his heartfelt caption that really struck a chord.

Gasol wrote in Catalan, “Ahir vaig tenir l’honor de rebre la Medalla d’Or al Mèrit Esportiu per part de l’@barcelona_cat. Vull agrair sincerament aquesta distinció a l’alcalde @jcollboni i a tots els grups polítics de l’Ajuntament que l’han fet possible. També a tots els que em vau acompanyar en un moment tan especial…”

Roughly translated, it reads: “Yesterday I had the honor of receiving the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit from @barcelona_cat. I sincerely want to thank the mayor @jcollboni and all the political groups of the City Council who made it possible. Also, to everyone who accompanied me in such a special moment…” Indeed, that truly was a special moment for Pau Gasol. And it was a special moment for his fans who’ve followed his journey from the Barcelona courts to NBA stardom.

Most new age fans remember Pau Gasol for his NBA championships and smooth skill set on American hardwood. But his story truly began in Spain. Long before the Lakers days, Gasol was a standout with FC Barcelona. His resume with Spain’s national team is just as stacked. A World Championship in 2006, three Olympic medals, and several EuroBasket crowns. So when his hometown of Barcelona paid tribute to him recently, it wasn’t just another ceremony. It was a heartfelt celebration of everything he’s meant to Spanish and international basketball.

Pau Gasol tips his hat to fallen brother Kobe Bryant in Bahrain

The 2008 Olympics gave us one of international basketball’s most unforgettable moments. Team USA’s ‘Redeem Team’ faced off against Spain in a hard-fought Gold Medal clash. Early in the game, Kobe Bryant made a statement by bulldozing Pau Gasol to the floor. As wild as that was, few could’ve predicted the brotherhood those two would later build. Brotherhood that still lives in basketball lore. 

Even now, Gasol hasn’t forgotten the bond they shared. During his FIBA Hall of Fame induction speech in Bahrain, Pau paid an emotional tribute, saying, “None was more important than my brother, Kobe. Our connection went far beyond that. He was unique. He challenged me to leave it all on the court every day to make us NBA champions. I’ll never forget how he welcomed me onto the team. We built something special. It wasn’t easy. Trust, accountability, unwavering commitment, and pure determination. I miss him and Gigi terribly”.

Gasol arrived in Los Angeles in 2008 after a pivotal trade with Memphis. And from the start, Kobe wanted to make sure his new teammate could rise to the challenge. Turns out, he did just that. Together, they powered the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals. And captured titles in 2009 and 2010.  And the bond they built doing so still lingers in Gasol’s head.