Championships, medals, legends—all etched in stone at the FIBA Hall of Fame. Yet for Pau Gasol, the evening of May 17 belonged to another kind of victory: family. Even on a night when his sporting accomplishments were being celebrated, he was quick to mention his family’s contribution to his success in an emotional speech. “Behind every achievement in my life, behind every medal, every championship, every success, every moment – also the defeats – is my family. They have been my greatest strength,” said an emotional Gasol.
Son of a doctor mother and a nurse father, Gasol initially chose to follow his parents into the medical field, before dropping out and choosing to play b-ball. Thank god! Gasol has always talked about the values and learnings his parents imparted to him and how it has shaped him as a person. Talking about them in his speech, he said,” My parents raised me with values that shaped my life: integrity, humility, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility.”
Gasol further lauds his parents for their support and encouragement. “They always supported my dreams, taking me to training sessions, not missing a single game, motivating me to be curious on and off the court, and reminding me that the most important thing is who you are, not what you achieve,” said Gasol. But that wasn’t all. Gasol, selfless as ever, gave his wife the flowers she deserves.
Gasol met his wife, Catherine McDonnell, when he was playing for the Lakers. And she has been at his side since then. Even during the difficult moments, ‘Kat’ has always had his back. When he got a serious foot injury while playing for the Spurs, Katherine used to help him move around and drive him from training to home. Acknowledging her contributions and sacrifices,Gasol said, “And to my wife Catherine, you are my rock, my love. You helped me through every change, especially at the end of my career; it’s not easy. And you sacrificed so much of your life. Thank you. I love you.”
It’s a true privilege to be part of the FIBA Hall of Fame alongside these amazing inductees, and specially with my family by my side.
Thank you, @FIBA, for the recognition and for your continued efforts in promoting basketball around the world pic.twitter.com/3EXkMtMhDn
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) May 18, 2025
Pau Gasol also paid tribute to his children. Speaking about them, he said,” Our wonderful children are here tonight, and they have made themselves known tonight. Being their father is the most important role of my life. And every day they remind me what really matters. Thank you.” Gasol has three children: one daughter and two sons. Because of his deep friendship with his Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, Gasol also named his daughter Elisabet Gianna in honour of Kobe’s daughter Gianna Bryant.
This year, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Hall of Fame ceremony took place in Bahrain on 17 May 2025. Having already been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, the Spaniard cemented his spot as a true legend of the game. The class of ’25 joining Pau includes Alphonse Bile, Andrew Bogut, Leonor Borrell, Pau Gasol, Ticha Penicheiro, Ratko Radovanovic, Dawn Stanley, and the legendary coach Mike Kryzewski.
But it’s not just the accolades that make Gasol the inspiration he is.
Gasol and Nadal join hands for a charity tournament.
Pau Gasol has been vocal about the global issue of childhood obesity. He started a foundation, called the Gasol Foundation, with his brother Marc Gasol, to spread awareness on this issue. It has now been confirmed that Gasol Foundation will host a Charity Golf Tournament in June to aid the fight against childhood Obesity. And he will be joined by none other than – Rafael Nadal.
The tennis great and the NBA legend are long-time friends. So it’s not a huge surprise to see them join hands for a special cause. The charity tournament will take place at the La Hacienda Links Golf Resort from June 19-22. According to Gasol, “This tournament was created with a clear purpose: to raise funds to continue promoting our mission of preventing childhood obesity through the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits,” He further adds, “For more than a decade, we at the Gasol Foundation have worked to improve the well-being of children and the families in vulnerable situations, and this tournament will be a unique opportunity to raise awareness, gather support, and enjoy golf in an exception setting.”
Basketball – Pau Gasol Press Conference – Theatre Liceu, Barcelona, Spain – October 5, 2021 Pau Gasol during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea
Gasol and Nadal will be joined by an array of sports icons at the La Hacienda, including the Spanish hoops legend Rudy Fernandez, seven-time DP World Tour-winning golfers Alvaro Quiros and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, ex-Barcelona Soccer player Bernd Schuster, and many others. Many big businessmen and executives associated with the Gasol Foundation will also take part in the tournament.
Pau Gasol’s philanthropic initiative should be equally celebrated as his on-court exploits. His Hall of Fame Induction is a recognition of his impact on the game, and all the good he is doing for the world.
The post Pau Gasol Stirs Emotions With Strong Message to Wife Kat & Family at FIBA Hall of Fame Event appeared first on EssentiallySports.