Emiliano Grillo’s 155-yard iron sailed through the sky, rolled around the cup like it had a mind of its own, and finally dropped! And history made- with a slam-dunk ace on the iconic 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open. The crowd went mad. Beer flew through the air, and drinks were all over the green. But the celebration has gone past golf to enter the on-court lips. Basketball legend Pau Gasol couldn’t let the moment pass unnoticed. But what did he do to share his excitement?

Grillo stood on the tee of the 16th hole, surrounded by 17,000 roaring fans. Ah, pressure building? Where will it head? All answered as he delivered a moment for the ages. After 2022, he is the only one to make this incredible shot possible. Grillo, stunned by his performance, tossed his club and leaped into a hug with his caddie and playing partners Rafael Campos and Seamus Power. And it caught the attention of the former Spanish forward. Gasol took to Instagram, sharing the clip as a tribute to Grillo’s magic. 

Pau Gasol shared the clip of Grillo’s ace, well, his admiration for one of golf’s greatest is pure! Proud to see his friend etch his name among the game’s greats. And, the 44-year-old spent years at the top himself, so he understands the dedication and hard work it takes to reach elite status. Recognizing Grillo’s incredible moment, the basketball icon applauded him, posting, “Grande @grilloemiliano!!!” on Instagram. It is a nod of respect from one champion to another.

Pau Gasol and Emiliano Grillo’s friendship began in 2024 when they teamed up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. They bonded over the tournament, and this appreciation is a dropped hint that the Barcelona-born knows to keep his friendship. But do you know how an NBA legend like Pau Gasol developed such a passion for golf?

How did Pau Gasol fall for golf?

For over 20 years, golf never crossed Pau Gasol’s mind. Growing up in Catalonia, he never swung a club. His basketball journey started from the FC Barcelona Basquet to the NBA, which left little room for the fairways. Even as he won back-to-back championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, golf was far away from him. So what happened all of a sudden? Or was it even sudden?

That changed when his life hit a pause. During the pandemic, while rehabbing a foot injury, Gasol went to a golf course in Hawaii. And it changed his perception of golf. One round led to another, and soon he was hooked on the game. Yet, despite his Spanish roots, Gasol never fully grasped the legendary status of Seve Ballesteros. As a kid, he had heard of the golf icon but didn’t realize his global impact. Even when they met at a Spanish royal’s wedding in the early 2000s, the young NBA star didn’t think much of it.

“I didn’t know how big he was,” Gasol admitted. “It was only when I started coming to the United States that I was like, ‘Oh, Seve. I get it now.” When Gasol retired from basketball in 2021, golf became more than a hobby. He found it to be both humbling and rewarding. “It’s a very humbling game,” Gasol said. “That makes it good for so-called ‘high achievers.’”

Now, golf is not just a pastime for Gasol, it’s a passion that connects him to fellow athletes like Emiliano Grillo. The way he celebrated Grillo’s ace shows just how invested he has become in the game. But is this what Pau envisions for his retirement?