Although it was actually formed by the Lakers in 2007, Mark Gasol never got a chance to favor the Lakers, as it quickly traded in Memphis.
Now, 13 years later, Gasol will finally be heading to Los Angeles for real.
After his two-year stint with the Toronto Raptors, Gasol signed a two-year, 5.3 million deal with the Lakers in this season.
“It was tough. It was very difficult, ”Gasol said Wednesday, via ESPN. “The first two days [of free agency] It was a little tough for me, but once you decide, ‘Well, what [do] Do you want to move on? Where? how [do] Do you want to go about your next challenge? ‘I thought the right thing was to go with the Lakers. “
Gasol had an average of .5..5 points and 6..3 rebounds per game last season with the Raptors, a season later helping him win the franchise’s first NBA title.
While they could have stayed in Toronto and been the main key to their rotation, the 35-year-old chose to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Southern California.
“It’s a great opportunity to be part of a team and see how a coach is [Frank Vogel] And G.M. [Rob Pelinka] And everyone thought I could contribute, he told me, “said Gasol via ESPN.” A team that just won a championship, those ideas were leading you, and that was great for me.
P has no Lakers advice
While Gasol has plenty of experience under his belt – he is preparing to start his 13th season in the league – he has the added advantage of having a brother who spent most of his career with the Lakers.
Pa Gasol played for the Lakers from 2007-2014 and won two titles there in 2009 and 2010.
Still, one would think that Gasol’s older brother would have some advice to give him before moving to Los Angeles, but he said the two haven’t talked about it.
“He didn’t give me any advice,” Mark Gasol said of Pau, via ESPN. “It’s a completely different team than the current one. I don’t think there’s any players left later, and a different coaching staff, so it’s up to me to do more than anything.”
More from Yahoo Sports:
