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Oct 29, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA: Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball as San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (left) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Lakers Legend Pau Gasol Discusses Luka Doncic Era in LA

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 7:30 PM ET

Former six-time All-Star Los Angeles Lakers power forward/center Pau Gasol recently unpacked the club's surprise new superstar addition, five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic.

Los Angeles stunned the NBA world when it brought in the 26-year-old superstar as part of a lopsided blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks, midway through the 2024-25 season.

The Lakers finished the year with a 50-32 record and the West's No. 3 seed, but ultimately fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

More news: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Sends Message to Mavericks With Massive Billboard Outside American Airlines Arena

While sitting courtside at a recent Los Angeles Sparks-Washington Mystics contest, Gasol spoke with Spectrum SportsNet's Nikki Kay about the Doncic addition.

Lakers legend Pau Gasol is in attendance! He caught up with @NikkiKaySN1 to discuss the growth of the WNBA, his time with the Lakers, and more! pic.twitter.com/yB0e5HezEb
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) September 1, 2025

“It’s great. Obviously, we were all thrilled, shocked and excited last season when the trade happened," Gasol said. "It’s great to have Luka in a Lakers uniform and having that anchor for the next many years to come. Super excited for the team. Let's see how we can take advantage of the team right now and try to have another run at it.”

Gasol, of course, was a great Lakers champion during his day. He was flipped to the Lakers from the Memphis Grizzlies in another lopsided deadline deal (L.A. pulls off a lot of those), circa 2008.

His addition to a roster that also included 18-time All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant, eventual Sixth Man of the Year forward Lamar Odom, and eventual All-Star center Andrew Bynum instantly transformed Los Angeles into a title contender.

The Lakers marched to three straight NBA Finals, winning in 2009 and '10. Gasol eventually departed L.A. in 2014 to sign with the Chicago Bulls.

More news: NBA Insiders Have Little Faith in Lakers Making NBA Finals This Season

The 7-footer's career overlapped for exactly one healthy season with Doncic's, 2018-19. By that point, Gasol was struggling through foot injuries (first a fracture in his right foot, next a left ankle injury that required surgery) and his output was far diminished. He split the year between the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks.

Doncic and Gasol's NBA Overlap

Gasol was technically rostered on an NBA team in 2019-20. He inked a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, in an effort to shore up the Damian Lillard-CJ McCollum era of the team with veteran bench leadership. But his lingering health issues prompted Portland to waive him in November of that year.

He ultimately returned to his native Spain to close out his pro career with FC Barcelona in 2020-21, guiding the club to the 2021 EuroLeague final.

Gasol also reflected on his six-and-a-half seasons in L.A. during the interview.

"A lot of memories obviously of the many great years that I was able to play here, play for the Lakers, play for the city, representing the city," Gasol said. "We had a great run at the beginning early when I joined the team, but then every day that I wore the jersey and the Laker uniform was an honor, and I wore it with pride."