It’s here, folks! The 2025 FIBA Hall of Fame class just dropped, and guess who’s headlining? None other than 6x NBA All-Star Pau Gasol. The list features eight players and one coach, men and women alike, but Gasol’s name just hits differently. Making it to the Hall of Fame is the dream of any player. And while Pau’s out there soaking in the glory, you’ve got to wonder how proud is his wife right now. The woman who’s been in his corner through the grind, the wins, and the heartbreaks.

Pau Gasol. A name that can’t be mentioned without “one of the greats” following right after it. Coming from Spain, he embraced basketball, a game foreign to his roots, and didn’t just play it. He dominated it. Hats off to the man. Gasol’s superstardom skyrocketed at the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan, where he snagged MVP honors and led Spain to their first-ever major trophy.

That was just the beginning. A 5x Olympian and Spain’s flagbearer at the London 2012 Games, Gasol carried his nation to three Olympic medals. Why should Cat not be proud of her husband?

The 2025 FIBA Hall of Fame class dropped on Thursday, and Cat Gasol didn’t miss a beat. She hit Instagram to share the official poster of the inductees on her story, giving all the players their due credit. But when it came to Pau, she made it personal. “So proud of you @paugasol. Always well deserved ❤️,” she wrote, putting her love and pride on full display. It’s moments like these that show just how much Cat values their relationship and admires everything Pau has achieved.

Speaking of the Instagram story, do you know who else is on the 2025 FIBA Hall of Fame poster? Alongside Pau, there are basketball legends like Alphonse Bilé (Côte d’Ivoire), Andrew Bogut (Australia), Leonor Borrell (Cuba), Fadi El Khatib (Lebanon), Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal), Ratko Radovanovic (Serbia), Dawn Staley (USA), and Mike Krzyzewski (USA).

Each of these players is legendary and has had a phenomenal career, shaping the game in their own right. But what sets Pau apart from these legends? Let’s find out!

Paul Gasol over the years

Pau Gasol’s journey to basketball stardom started way earlier than most people think. He first hit the professional court as a teenager for FC Barcelona Basquet in 1996. But what might shock you is that Pau was more focused on a future in medicine than on sports. Yeah, you read that right, he was thinking about a career in the medical field. But, of course, fate had other plans. Before long, Pau’s name was on every NBA team’s draft board. 

In 2001, the Atlanta Hawks selected him third overall in the NBA Draft, making him the highest pick ever from Europe at that time. Paul became the first non-American to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Then, midway through his seventh season, the Los Angeles Lakers made a power move and traded for Gasol, sending his brother Marc to the Memphis Grizzlies.

That trade paid off big time. Over the next three seasons, Pau helped the Lakers reach three consecutive Finals appearances, securing back-to-back titles. Alongside him was who he calls his brother, another legend of the sport, Kobe Bryant.

Pau Gasol, a 6x NBA All-Star, won three Olympic medals with the Spanish national team and was named European Player of the Year four times. “Pau is one of the most skilled big men to ever play the game. He is one of the most intelligent, most unselfish players I’ve ever played with.” That’s the word of the late, great Kobe Bryant. And honestly, Kobe couldn’t have been more spot-on. The 2025 FIBA Hall of Fame class couldn’t have made basketball fans happier. And we can’t wait to see what’s next for Pau.