Editing Pau Gasol (section)

==== 2008–2011: Back-to-back championships and All-NBA appearances ====
[[File:Pau Gasol boxout.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Gasol [[boxing out]] in 2008]]
On February 1, 2008, Memphis traded Gasol to the [[2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] along with a [[2010 NBA draft|2010]] second round draft pick for [[Kwame Brown]], [[Javaris Crittenton]], [[Aaron McKie]], the rights to [[Marc Gasol]] (Pau's younger brother), and [[2008 NBA draft|2008]] and [[2010 NBA draft|2010]] first round draft picks.<ref name="GasolTrade" /> There has been some controversy surrounding the trade. [[Chris Wallace (NBA general manager)|Chris Wallace]] denied in an [[ESPN]] article that he had been ordered by owner [[Michael Heisley]] to make the Grizzlies more attractive to a potential buyer. Wallace said, "No one put pressure on me to do this, and Michael Heisley has actually been reluctant to move Pau." He also said that they had been "trolling" the waters for a while and dealt with a number of teams. He selected the Lakers deal because "it didn't get any better than this."<ref name="GasolTrade">{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2008 |title=What were the Grizzlies Thinking? |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=3226776 |access-date=May 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527044958/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=3226776 |url-status=live }}</ref> When Gasol departed the Grizzlies, he held twelve franchise records, including games played, minutes played, field goals made, free throws made and attempted, offensive, defensive, and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers, and points. Per game statistics, he leads Memphis in defensive and total rebounds along with blocked shots.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memphis Grizzlies Franchise Leaders |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MEM/leaders_career.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=August 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822083735/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MEM/leaders_career.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After being traded to the Lakers, Gasol lived in [[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]], across the street from the shoreline.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 29, 2010 |title=The Power Of Pau |work=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1167642/index.htm |access-date=March 26, 2010 |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328042948/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1167642/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> On February 5, Gasol made his first Lakers appearance in a game against the [[2007–08 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey Nets]], during which he scored 24 points and had 12 rebounds in a 105–90 win over the Nets.<ref name="LakerTrade">{{Cite web |date=2008-02-01 |title=Needing inside help, Lakers get Gasol from Grizz |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203 |access-date=2021-07-16 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531011409/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2008 |title=Lakers Acquire Gasol From Grizzlies |url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080201gasol_trade.html |access-date=2021-07-16 |website=Los Angeles Lakers |language=en |archive-date=July 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716143644/https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080201gasol_trade.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 14, Gasol sprained his ankle in a game against the [[2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans Hornets]], stepping on the foot of teammate [[Vladimir Radmanović]] in the first quarter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul's double-double helps Hornets prevail |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280314003 |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=April 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404190349/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280314003 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Gasol was expected to miss the remaining three games of the Lakers' road trip after [[x-rays]] came up negative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakers' Gasol to sit out at least three games with injured ankle |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3294271 |access-date=May 17, 2005 |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319011016/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3294271 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gasol returned to the starting lineup on April 2 against the [[2007–08 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]] and played nearly thirty-two minutes, registering 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists.<ref name="return">{{Cite web |title=Gasol contributes 10 points in Lakers' win over Portland |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280402013 |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511142040/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280402013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He admitted to feeling limited with the swelling in his ankle still present.<ref name=return/> Gasol helped the Lakers finish the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference (57–25), with him in the starting lineup the Lakers went 22–5. [[Kobe Bryant]] has also stated that playing with Gasol clicked from the start.<ref name="GasolHero">{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=David |date=May 7, 2008 |title=Gasol quickly fits in to help Lakers |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/2008-05-06-Gasol_N.htm?csp=34 |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=May 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510131109/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/2008-05-06-Gasol_N.htm?csp=34 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Pau Gasol dunk.jpg|thumb|upright|Dunk by Gasol in Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals]]
In the Lakers' opening game of the [[2008 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]], he contributed 36 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocked shots.<ref name="GasolHero" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakers-Nuggets Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200804200LAL.html |publisher=basketballreference.com |access-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705163102/http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200804200LAL.html |url-status=live }}</ref> When the Lakers swept the [[2007–08 Denver Nuggets season|Denver Nuggets]] in the first round, it was Gasol's first trip to the second round in four tries. His previous team, the Grizzlies, failed to reach the playoffs for the second year in a row. He contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds in Game 6 against the [[2007–08 Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]] to help the Lakers advance to the conference finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jazz-Lakers Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200805160UTA.html |publisher=basketballreference.com |access-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709080815/http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200805160UTA.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Jazzout">{{Cite web |title=Lakers Win Series 4–2 |website=[[NBA.com]] |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080516_gameday_jazz.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=May 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519094814/http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080516_gameday_jazz.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 31, he recorded a career high 19 rebounds in a series-clinching win against the [[2007–08 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]], and he became the first [[Spanish people|Spaniard]] to reach the NBA Finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakers-Spurs Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200805290LAL.html |publisher=basketballreference.com |access-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517134617/http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200805290LAL.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Pau Gasol becomes first Spaniard to reach NBA final">{{Cite web |title=Pau Gasol becomes first Spaniard to reach an NBA final |url=http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/15015/pau-gasol-becomes-first-spaniard-to-reach-nba-final |access-date=May 30, 2008 |publisher=thinkspain.com |archive-date=June 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606224203/http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/15015/pau-gasol-becomes-first-spaniard-to-reach-nba-final |url-status=live }}</ref> Gasol scored 14.7 points per game on .532 shooting in the [[2008 NBA Finals|2008 Finals]] against the [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]], which was below his scoring average of 18.9 during the regular season, However, he led the Lakers in rebounding with 10.2 per game throughout the championship series,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 NBA Finals Composite Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2008_finals.html |publisher=basketballreference.com |access-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220220251/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2008_finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref> up from his regular-season average of 8.4.<ref name="nbabio" /> Los Angeles lost in six games against Boston in the Finals, including a 131–92 loss in Game 6.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA Finals 2008 Homepage |website=[[NBA.com]] |url=http://www.nba.com/finals2008/index.html |access-date=November 10, 2008 |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118013435/http://www.nba.com/finals2008/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Playoffs, Gasol was the second leading Laker in points (16.9), rebounds (9.3) and assists per game (4.0).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2008.html |publisher=basketballreference.com |access-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-date=November 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103053535/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2008.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the leader in blocks per game (1.90) and was tied with Lamar Odom with the most postseason double-doubles (10).

On January 2, 2009, in a win against the Utah Jazz, Gasol scored his 10,000th career point. Gasol earned his second All-Star appearance as a reserve for the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] squad during the [[2008–09 NBA season]], his first as a Laker. He was also named Western Conference Player of the Month after helping the Lakers to an 11–2 record for the month of February that included road wins over Boston and Cleveland. He finished the regular season with averages of 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1 block per game. Gasol then won his first NBA championship ring when the Lakers defeated the [[2008–09 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]] in the [[2009 NBA Finals|2009 Finals]].

On December 24, 2009, Gasol signed a 3-year extension with the Lakers worth $64.7 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Broderick |date=December 24, 2009 |title=Lakers' Pau Gasol signs three-year extension |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-sp-lakers-fyi24-2009dec24-story.html |access-date=May 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315193532/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/24/sports/la-sp-lakers-fyi24-2009dec24 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gasol earned his third All-Star appearance as a reserve for the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] and finished the regular season with averages of 18.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks. In Game 6 of the first round, Gasol grabbed 18 rebounds and his last-second putback eliminated the [[2009–10 Oklahoma City Thunder season|Oklahoma City Thunder]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder&nbsp;– Recap&nbsp;– April 30, 2010 |url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300430025 |access-date=September 19, 2011 |publisher=ESPN |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113235509/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300430025 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the conference semifinals against the [[2009–10 Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]], he averaged 23.5 points and 14.5 rebounds, and finally in the conference finals against the [[2009–10 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]], he averaged 19.7 points with 7.2 rebounds. In Game 7 of the [[2010 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] against the [[2009–10 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]], Gasol scored 19 points, (6–16 FGM-A, 7–13 FTM-A) grabbed 18 rebounds and recorded two blocks as the Lakers repeated as champions. He averaged 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game in the series, on a 47.8% field goal percentage. In 2010, he was chosen as the 15th-smartest athlete in sports by  ''[[Sporting News]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 27, 2010 |title=SN names the 20 smartest athletes in sports |work=Sporting News |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2010-09/smart-athletes/story/sporting-news-names-the-20-smartest-athletes-in-sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523023358/http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2010-09/smart-athletes/story/sporting-news-names-the-20-smartest-athletes-in-sports |archive-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref>

Challenged by Lakers' coach [[Phil Jackson]] to be more assertive while Bryant recovered from offseason knee surgery, Gasol started the season's first week averaging 25.3 points on 52.5 percent shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and five assists per game as the Lakers started 3–0. He was named [[2010–11 NBA season#Players of the week|Western Conference Player of the Week]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kamenetzky |first=Brian |date=November 1, 2010 |title=Pau Gasol tops Western Conference |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5753535 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104042552/http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5753535 |archive-date=November 4, 2010 |access-date=November 10, 2010 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> He earned his third straight [[2011 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star selection]] and his season averages of 19 points and 10 rebounds were nearly identical to what he had put up as a Laker the previous three seasons.<ref name="reportcard11">{{Cite web |last=Champlin |first=Brian |date=May 13, 2011 |title=Player Report Card: Pau Gasol |url=http://www.lakersnation.com/exit-evaluations-pau-gasol/2011/05/13/ |access-date=May 14, 2011 |publisher=lakersnation |archive-date=May 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516133542/http://www.lakersnation.com/exit-evaluations-pau-gasol/2011/05/13/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Pau's play also merited him [[All-NBA team|All-NBA second team]] honors for the first time in his career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Medina |first=Mark |date=May 12, 2011 |title=Kobe Bryant named to All-NBA first team; Pau Gasol makes second team |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/05/kobe-bryant-named-to-all-nba-first-team-pau-gasol-makes-it-to-all-nba-second-team.html |access-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514203634/http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/05/kobe-bryant-named-to-all-nba-first-team-pau-gasol-makes-it-to-all-nba-second-team.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[2011 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]], Gasol only averaged 13 points on 42% shooting over 10 games, and the Lakers were swept by the [[2010–11 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]] in the second round. Gasol had the worst post season performance of his career.<ref name="reportcard11" /> Lakers Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst [[Magic Johnson]] cited Gasol as a possible trade option for the Lakers to acquire [[Orlando Magic|Magic]] center [[Dwight Howard]].<ref name="exitinter11">{{Cite news |last=Medina |first=Mark |date=May 12, 2011 |title=Pau Gasol has plenty of motivation in off-season |work=The New York Times |url=http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/05/pau-gasol-enters-this-offseason-with-plenty-of-motvation-1.html?cid=6a00d8341c506253ef014e8865f353970d |access-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519032410/http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/05/pau-gasol-enters-this-offseason-with-plenty-of-motvation-1.html?cid=6a00d8341c506253ef014e8865f353970d |url-status=dead }}</ref> Gasol ignored the false reports about his relationship status with his girlfriend as the cause of his poor performance and has accepted the criticism of his play as valid.<ref name="exitinter11" />