Pau Gasol's role has diminished in each of his last three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, a sign that Father Time might come calling in the near future, as the 38-year-old entered his 18th season in the league.
The 7-footer's minutes have been drastically cut from a healthy 23.5 per game last season to a mere 17.4 through nine appearances, but the Spanish international isn't quite ready to even think of retiring just yet.
“In two summers, I might think about it a little more,” Gasol told Jabari Young of The Athletic. “It might be an option then, maybe. And maybe not because I love what I do. I work my ass off to do what I do at this stage, to keep up with the pace of the game and the progress and the development of the game today. I take pride in that. That’s what makes me who I am.”
Gasol's averages of 6.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and a block per game might not be the monstrous double-double averages he put up with the Los Angeles Lakers in his heyday or with the Chicago Bulls later on, but he's managed to fill the stat sheet and somehow adapt to a lesser role without losing joy for the game.
With no starts to his name, Gasol is quarterbacking a lot of the action for other role players off the bench, serving as the pivot man in Gregg Popovich's fluid-movement offense.
“That the ball goes through me a lot more,” said Gasol. “I’m a playmaker. I make plays for my guys and for myself, and I’m kind of a little bit of a point guard in that unit. So, that’s a good position.”
Gasol's gifts extend past his long-gone athleticism, still making use of his fundamentals, his motor and his soft touch around the rim — skills that won't allow him to retire, at least not yet.
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