NBA legend Pau Gasol has shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story from his playing days, revealing that he personally tried to recruit Andrés Nocioni before the Argentine forward signed with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent.
Gasol explained that the Memphis Grizzlies had both the interest and the financial flexibility to bring Nocioni to the franchise, prompting him to reach out directly.
“I called Chapu because we also had that option and that level of contract to bring him to Memphis,” Gasol said. “Of course, he was surprised by my call.”
According to Gasol, Nocioni initially believed there was tension between them due to their intense international matchups, particularly in clashes between Spain and Argentina.
“He told me, ‘I thought you didn’t like me, because whenever we played against Argentina, it was always very competitive,’” Gasol recalled. “And I said, ‘No, I compete against you, against whoever. We’ve had many tough battles, but I’d love to have you as a teammate.’”
Gasol emphasized his admiration for Nocioni’s style of play, competitiveness, and impact on the floor, describing him as someone who would have been a perfect fit alongside him.
Despite the personal pitch, Nocioni ultimately chose Chicago, leaving Gasol to reflect humorously on the failed recruitment effort.
“He ended up signing with the Bulls, so the call didn’t work out,” Gasol said. “It wasn’t convincing enough.”
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