ESP – Gasol on a high in LA, looks forward to Olympics

LOS ANGELES (Olympics) – Spain international Pau Gasol is having the time of his life with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Having moved from no-hopers Memphis to title-chasing LA, Gasol is an integral part of a Lakers team that is in a tough fight with Utah in a Western Conference semi-final.

The series is knotted at 2-2, with Game Five set to be played back at the Lakers’ Staples Center.

"I am in a good moment in my career, a sweet one in which I feel privileged and fortunate for what I am experiencing,” Gasol admitted.

“The cherry on the cake would be to win the NBA ring and the Olympics would be a dream for any player."

Gasol has tried to focus on the NBA but he admits the Olympics is never far from his thoughts. The MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship, he will lead Spain this summer at the Beijing Games.

"We are going to the Olympics determined to fight to do something great, even though the level is very high,” Gasol said.

“We have chances to succeed but we must go slowly. My aim as a player is to win an Olympic medal and if it can be a gold one, all the better.

“My only aim is to continue to work day-by-day and to achieve my objectives.”

Gasol, who was answering questions by fans in the Marca sports paper, was asked about the possibility of good friend and injured Toronto Raptor Jorge Garbajosa playing in China.

Garbajosa missed almost the entire season with Toronto and the club clearly does not want him to risk further injury in Beijing.

He will be fortunate to run back onto the basketball court any time soon.

"I don't think there is a team that can prohibit a player from going to the Olympics, so when I heard the story about Garbajosa, I was surprised,” Gasol said.

"It's true that Jorge's situation is and remains special, but I am convinced that this will be sorted and that Jorge will be with us in Beijing because for the national team, he is a fundamental player."

FIBA