While he is most known for his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and LA Lakers, Pau Gasol suited up for numerous franchises towards the end of his NBA career. His final stop before retirement was with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he appeared in three games in 2019. Years removed from his Hall of Fame career, the longtime center received high praise from a fellow star of his generation.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Dwyane Wade reflected on Gasol's peak with the Lakers. Specifically the 2010 finals when he and Kobe Bryant pulled off delivering LA back-to-back championships. Wade praised Gasol's play in the series, stating that he should received Finals MVP honors of Bryant that year.
"That last finals that they won, Kobe didn't play well," Wade said. "Actually, everybody thought Pau Gasol should have been MVP. That's how well Pau was playing."
“Everybody thought Pau should have been MVP. That’s how well Pau was playing.” @DwyaneWade praises @PauGasol for his performance in the 2010 NBA Finals. 💯 pic.twitter.com/a9FVryvQrZ
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) June 19, 2025
Across seven games in the 2010 finals, Gasol averaged 18.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG, and 3.7 APG. His best individual outing came in Game 2 when he notched 25 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks.
Roughly a decade after winning his second and final title, Gasol found himself in Milwaukee. He landed with the Bucks in the buyout market after being waived by the San Antonio Spurs. Gasol would go on to log 30 minutes across his three appearances with the team, recording four points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in that time.
Though his tenure with the Bucks was lackluster, Gasol is still widely regarded as one of the top power forwards in NBA history. His list of personal accolades includes being a two-time champion, six-time All-Star, and was named to four All-NBA teams.