Gasol said Barca's season wasn't as bad as it might seem.
Pau Gasol finished his professional basketball career playing for FC Barcelona. With the club remaining trophyless for the first time since 2018, the NBA legend evaluated the season.
Before the start of his Pau Gasol Academy by Santander, the Hall of Famer talked about the current events.
"Although they didn't win any major titles, I think the season wasn't as negative as one might say. With the circumstances, it's been praiseworthy, reaching the Copa del Rey final, on the verge of the Final Four, in the ACB semi-finals against possibly the best team in Europe," Gasol said.
"I think [head coach Roger] Grimau and his staff did well. Taking into account the changes, everything hasn't gone so bad," the former player declared. "The solution is to continue building and have more continuity, learning from mistakes."
Barca was eliminated from Spanish Liga Endesa (ACB) title contention by Real Madrid, who are now leading 2-0 in the Finals against UCAM Murcia. In Game 2 of the series on Monday, Real Madrid's Rudy Fernandez played possibly his last game in front of the home crowd and led the team in scoring with 14 points.
Fernandez had previously announced he'd end his long professional career after this season.
"They once asked me about my top five to beat Team USA, and I put Rudy in because he has always done so many things at a competitive level and because he has a nose for winning that has taken us where we are," Gasol said. "I'm happy that he did what he has always done in the last game, and I'm very happy for him. I hope he can play in the Olympics."
The ACB Finals series isn't the only one Gasol is focusing on. At the same, the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks are competing for the NBA title on the other side of the Atlantic.
Asked whether this Celtics team reminds him in any way the Boston teams of the late 2000s he had to face as a Los Angeles Laker, Gasol hesitated.
"It's difficult to compare generations and teams, but this Boston team is great," Gasol said. "They were the best in the regular season, they are the best in the playoffs, and they have a chance to win a new title. Hopefully, Dallas can play a great Game 3 to stay alive, but it won't be easy against a team that's very deep, with many weapons. Holiday, Brown, Tatum, White... They are very good players both offensively and defensively."
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