KEY POINTS

  • Pau Gasol is reportedly nearing a deal with FC Barcelona
  • Gasol is preparing for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
  • His stint still depends on how well his foot injury has healed

Pau Gasol is one of the few elite NBA stars who may have done everything he could in his basketball career. Now 40 years old, Gasol could opt to call it a career without regret. But somehow, the 7-foot Spaniard feels he still has some gas left in the tank.

A return to the NBA is not out of the books, but Gasol may have better chances in Europe. And it appears that is the case with reports emerging that the Spaniard is now in advanced talks with FC Barcelona.

FC Barcelona bosses may have been keeping tabs on Gasol and read that report from ESPN. Gasol mentioned wanting to finish his career either in the NBA or in Europe, assuming his foot was fine.

“A final season with the Lakers is attractive, finishing at Barca is attractive, but you have to see the real possibilities and see what situation would be best for the circumstances of the moment,” Gasol said.

Barcelona is taking a chance on Gasol, aware that his foot injury could be a problem. But head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius believes that adding the veteran center would not hurt them.

Gasol and Jasikevicius are close, and both played together for Barcelona from 2000-2001.

Aside from that, Gasol has other things in mind. The Spaniard seems determined to play at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and wants to play somewhere this season as part of his preparations. Should his talks with Barcelona go well, the third-overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft may just reach that goal.

Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol #16 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. Getty Images/Patrick Smith

However, the more important focus right now is the condition of Gasol's foot. He last played for the Milwaukee Bucks, appearing in only three games. He would be shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers before the 2019-20 season but was waived.

“I’m feeling good. I’ve had more time to recover,” Pau Gasol said via NBA.com. “When I can start running and jumping, I will have a lot more information to know for sure if the foot and the bone are consolidated for me to be playing professional basketball again.”

Gasol is a two-time NBA champion, a former NBA Rookie of the Year and a six-time NBA All-Star. In the international scene, he has won countless awards, including being named the FIBA World Championship MVP in 2006.

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