#3 Pau Gasol – Memphis Grizzlies, 2001
Pau Gasol is just so gifted, it’s a pity he spent much of his younger career with a franchise like the Memphis Grizzlies. His stats were on point and among the league’s elite but the team wasn’t equipped to succeed and he spent 7 seasons in Memphis never winning a Playoff game in 3 post-season appearances.
When he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through the 2007-08 NBA season, it changed the landscape of not just his career but also that of the franchise. In the next three years, he along with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers made it three straight Finals and won two of them. Although through both the wins Bryant was named the Finals MVP, Gasol’s contribution was pivotal and cannot be taken for granted.
Having played for FC Barcelona for three years before being drafted 3rd overall in 2001, Gasol made an impression immediately by distinguishing himself with his European style of play. Those three years had cultivated a style of play the league was not very familiar with and that’s what made him such a valuable player on any team.
Qualities like being able to hit mid-range jumpers consistently and having a unique eye for open teammates as a 7 footer was something that was not seen a lot in the NBA. Over the course of his 15 year career, he has played for three teams and has been a huge reason for success on every one of those teams. Gasol is also among that pool of players whose game is fundamentally sound and their basketball IQ almost unmatched.
