San Antonio Spurs veteran center Pau Gasol still sees himself as a starter for this new-look team, despite recently turning 38 years old in the offseason. The team recently shed some of its oldest players with the retirement of Manu Ginobili, 41, and Tony Parker, 36, deciding to join the Charlotte Hornets.
“I always want to start,” Gasol said after the Spurs’ first practice of training camp Tuesday, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “I’ve been a starter my entire career. But I understand if a team at some point needs me to come off the bench and assume that role, I will.”
Gasol is no longer the dominant center he once was during his heyday — not by a mile, but he's still an able contributor despite being a few steps slow and not as able to provide the defense he used to bring early in his career.
His two years with the Spurs have diminished his role to a mere support player, making his spot as the starting center easy to dislodge with the acquisition of Jakob Poeltl through the Kawhi Leonard trade.
Poeltl is coming off his best season in the league since being drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2016, putting up 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 18.6 minutes per game — numbers that could surely skyrocket with more generous playing time.
No longer under the shadow of Jonas Valanciunas, Poeltl can flourish if coach Gregg Popovich ultimately gives him the chance to start, making Gasol assume a mentorship role to help his all-around game.
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