Much of Pau Gasol’s legend comes from his excellence on the international stage, and now he may have a better chance of getting one final go-around.
The governing bodies in charge of the Olympics in Tokyo announced Monday that the Games had officially been rescheduled for the summer of 2021.
IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government announce new dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 https://t.co/QITtT5dcl8 pic.twitter.com/DHi4u74ZXa
— Olympics (@Olympics) March 30, 2020
In light of the news, Spain national basketball coach Sergio Scariolo said there was now a greater likelihood of Gasol suiting up for them in Olympic play.
“This actually gives him a better chance of making it,” said Scariolo, per John Askounis of Eurohoops. “This summer might have been a stretch, but with one more season ahead he can get back on the courts and be as close as possible to the Olympic Games.”
Gasol is an all-time great of the Spanish team, helping lead them to three Olympic medals, three EuroBasket titles, and a FIBA World Cup title over the years. He is about to turn 40 however and is still recovering from a stress fracture in his foot that has sidelined him for the entire NBA season.
The six-time NBA All-Star is optimistic though about continuing his career, and one last hurrah with Spain in the Olympics would be a fitting send-off.
