With a season under his belt with the San Antonio Spurs, veteran big man Pau Gasol has developed a keen knowledge of what to expect in the team's fast-paced offense.
According to Melissa Rohlin of the San Antonio Express-News, the 37-year-old has taken the measure of trimming down his physique to better perform in his 17th season.
Pau lost 10 pounds this summer, down to about 250. Said he has to keep up with the run-and-gun style of young guys.
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) September 26, 2017
In his first campaign with the Spurs, Gasol proved to be a reliable source of production averaging 12.4 points on 50.2 percent shooting from the field with 7.8 rebounds per game while playing a career-low 25.4 minutes. This includes scoring in double figures 42 times and logging 11 double-doubles while also leading the team in rebounding on 26 occasions.
The renewed focus on his physical fitness could prove to be quite beneficial as it allows for him to further maximize his playing time on the court in a limited capacity. This could also help keep Gasol relatively healthy throughout the duration of the regular season heading into the playoffs.
He is expected to remain in the starting lineup this upcoming season alongside former All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge. Gasol had re-signed with the Spurs over the offseason on a three-year, $48 million deal that does not include any team or player options.
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