Pau Gasol debuted again for Barcelona. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol makes official Barcelona return

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Apr 9, 2021 8:05 PM ET

Veteran big man Pau Gasol won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers but hadn't played a competitive game since March 2019. Gasol officially completed his return to Barcelona, where he made his pro debut more than two decades ago, by taking the court for Friday's Euroleague home game against Bayern Munich.

As noted by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Bayern won 82-72, but that result couldn't keep the future Hall of Famer from smiling after the contest:

This is how I’ve felt on this special day. Thank you for your support!!

Visca el Barça! pic.twitter.com/Z9cDZS4a6h
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) April 9, 2021

Gasol drained his first bucket early in the matchup and finished with nine points, four rebounds and an assist across 13 minutes:

@paugasol's first game stats:

️ 9 Points

4 Boards

1 Assist

❤️ Millions of culers happy to have you back pic.twitter.com/BTaah3uqz4
— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) April 9, 2021

Gasol originally denied a February report that he was returning to Spain but ultimately rejoined Barcelona on a deal that will keep him with the club through at least the end of June.

I couldn't end such a special day without telling you this…
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/YzSKkrSC6Q
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) February 23, 2021

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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