“Breathe, breathe in the air. Don’t be afraid to care.” Bulls big man Pau Gasol apparently took the advice from that classic Dark Side of the Moon lyric to heart over the summer.
On Wednesday, Gasol revealed to reporters that he underwent nasal surgery this offseason to help aid his breathing.
Pau Gasol reveals he had surgery on his sinuses in June to help him breathe better.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) September 30, 2015
If Gasol’s MVP performance at EuroBasket this past month (where he led the team to the title, raining a 40-point downpour against France in the semi-final) was any indication, then the surgery was a massive success.
The five-time NBA All-Star had a big-time resurgence in his first season with the Bulls last year. Freed from the fetters of Mike D’Antoni and the Lakers, Gasol posted 18.5 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, and 1.9 blocks per game.
In true Tom Thibodeau-fashion, Gasol was played 34.4 minutes per game last season, though under new Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg, that number could dip a bit in 2015-16.
Gasol said the plan is for him to play fewer minutes this year.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 30, 2015
At 35 years of age and with all that screaming he does down low, the surgery (a clean means of rejuvenation for Gasol) should do him some good and ensure that we get at least a few more quality seasons from our seven-foot Spanish basketball deity.
