The Milwaukee Bucks center Pau Gasol said that his goal for the next season is to recover well from the injury he suffers in his left foot to “continue competing” in the NBA and play the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the Spanish team.
«My illusion was to play the World Championship this summer. It cannot be and, without a doubt, I would like to play with the team at the Tokyo Olympic Games, “said the player at the presentation ceremony of the Pau Gasol Academy by Santander held this Thursday in Barcelona.
After witnessing the fifth game of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors, the Catalan player is in Barcelona recovering from the stress fracture in the navicular bone of the left foot that forced him to go through the operating room.
This injury will prevent him from playing with the Spanish team in the World Championship that will be held in China this summer. However, Pau does not forget the national team by any means and, at almost 39 years old, his goal is to recover from the injury and participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Precisely on the options of the Spanish team in the next championship, he considered that, despite his absence, the team has “great players” to compete in China.
«The team always has great players, with a special cohesion and the spirit of the group is always there. We have gotten a special group, a great team to be at the top », he added.
Regarding his future in the NBA, Gasol is waiting to see “what happens with free agency”, although he did not hide that he would like to continue with the Bucks.
«It has been a very difficult season, because I have not been able to have continuity due to the injury. However, that it happened to me in the eighteenth season in the NBA is within reason. Having continuity in the Bucks I think would be something positive and that I would like; it is a team with real potential to win the championship, “he admitted.
While waiting for the World Championship to be played, Gasol will be able to follow the Endesa League final that will be played by Real Madrid and Barça Lassa starting this Saturday.
«Barça’s season has been much better compared to the last ones. The team has performed at a much higher level. It will be a very competitive final and Barça will have real options to challenge Real Madrid for the title. It is going to be fought », predicted Pau. EFE