Pau Gasol‘s role upon his arrival at San Antonio has been somewhat murky. Is he a second-option? A third option? A spot-up shooter? One thing was sure — the Gasol that averaged a 16-and-11 double-double with the Chicago Bulls last season was gone under head coach Gregg Popovich‘s do-what-it-takes system.
The Spanish international has everything in perspective and does not seem to mind this transition in his career.
“You have to understand you're coming to a team that's already really good, right?” Gasol told Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports. “And you have to figure out a way to fit in best within the personnel and how the coaching staff wants to use you and wants you to contribute.”
With Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge as the primary horses in Popovich's cavalry, Gasol's focus has shifted to doing what it takes to add to his hardware.
“I have to understand where I am in my career and why I came here,” the 36-year-old center said. “I came here to help this team be better, and ultimately help the team win a championship.
“It's not about statistics (or) individual stuff. It's about team accomplishment, and by the end of the year, (if) I contribute and help this team be better and win a championship, I'll be a happy man.”
The 7-footer certainly doesn't have the athleticism he had in his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers team at the end of last decade, but is certainly well-rounded enough to fill the holes when Leonard and Aldridge struggle to score.
“He's exactly what we thought he would be,” Popovich said.
The Spurs boast the NBA second-best winning streak, having won nine in a row.
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