Only one game remains in the EuroBasket 2025 group stage, and it will decide who will advance to the Round of 16. Team Greece, which struggled in the previous matchup against Bosnia & Herzegovina, now has Giannis Antetokounmpo back to take on Team Spain. Most likely due to this, and other factors, Greece reportedly had odds of -6.5 going into the matchup. However, even amidst poor odds, loyalty to the national team stands. Pau Gasol recently showed that to his NBA fans.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend recently took to his official Instagram account to share a post with his 2 million followers. The same highlighted a picture of the Team Spain squad, comprising both the players and the coaching staff. Another picture showed the players standing in attention right before the game kickoff. Pau Gasol sent his love to the players through these pictures, and a caption that, when translated, reads “Trust in this team. Trust in #LaFamilia. Go, @baloncestoesp!!!!”.

During the 18 years he played professionally for the NBA, along with a significant portion with FC Barcelona, Pau Gasol also made use of ample opportunities to represent his national team. Today, he can boast of having won a FIBA World Cup title, three EuroBasket titles, two Olympic silver medals, and an Olympic bronze medal with the Spanish national basketball team. During the 2006 FIBA World Cup, he averaged 21.3 points through 8.1/12.5 (65.0%) field goals, 0.0/0.4 (0.0%) 3-pointers, and 5.0/7.5 (66.7%) free throws.

Along with that, he also averaged 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His performance in that tournament earned him the MVP title. Gasol would go on to win the title also in the 2009 and 2015 FIBA EuroBasket. Along with Krešimir Ćosić, he continues to today hold the record for most EuroBasket MVP awards, along with being the all-time leading scorer in total points scored in the EuroBasket.

Much of Pau Gasol’s legacy has been created thanks to his work with Team Spain. Therefore, there was no way he was going to give out support to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Team Greece. However, that shouldn’t mean that the Spaniard personally does not hold any respect for ‘The Greek Freak’. After all, he is the same player whom Gasol once compared to his ‘hermano’.

Pau Gasol Once Compared Giannis Antetokounmpo To Kobe Bryant

Pau Gasol got firsthand experience with the prowess of a young Giannis Antetokounmpo when the Spaniard signed with the Milwaukee Bucks back in March 2019. During one matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, Giannis recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead his team to a 131-121 win. Gasol was impressed enough by the performance and what he saw in Giannis as his teammate that he went ahead and compared him to none other than Kobe Bryant.

“He puts in the work just like the greatest players do,” said Gasol in an interview with NBA.com. “Kobe was an absolute maniac as far as putting in the work early, late, at any time because he was obsessed by being the best and that’s what it takes and [Giannis] also puts in the work, maybe a different schedule because Kobe was a little off as far as his schedule goes but he’s got the desire to be great and he’s very aggressive, he approaches the game in a very competitive manner and he loves it.”

‘The Black Mamba’ wasn’t the only one Pau Gasol used to shower praise on a young Giannis. Even Shaquille O’Neal made the list a month later.

“The way young Shaq ran the fast break, finished with thundering dunks, defended the rim … I see some of the same qualities in Giannis,” said Gasol. “Here’s an example. It’s very specific, but I think it says a lot. When you watch video of young Shaq contesting dunks at the rim, you will see similar defensive instincts in Giannis. Both guys go for the block every time”.

Pau Gasol hasn’t shied away from praising Giannis Antetokounmpo in the past. However, through his recent Instagram story, he proved that his former national team comes before his former NBA teammate.