5 reasons why Pau Gasol is a first-ballot future NBA Hall of Famer

#3 Success overseas

Pau Gasol had a successful Olympic career

A lot of basketball fans like to focus on what a player did during his career in the NBA. However, it's important to remember that the Hall of Fame also has serious international implications.

Not only was Pau Gasol a dominant player at the NBA level, but he also was a key player of the Spanish Olympic basketball team.

Gasol helped Spain win silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, as well as a bronze medal in 2016. One of his biggest accomplishments while playing internationally was leading Spain to the gold medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He also won the MVP award.

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#2 A winner at the NBA level

Pau Gasol helped the Lakers win back-to-back NBA championships

While fans often look at multiple stats to determine whether a player deserves to be in the NBA Hall of Fame, there's usually only one stat that matters. That stat is the number of NBA championships the player has won.

Gasol played a major role in helping Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers win back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010. During the 2010 NBA Finals, Gasol averaged 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for the Lakers.

According to Basketball Reference, Pau Gasol also has 144 win shares (ranked 31st in the NBA all-time list).

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#1 Trust the numbers

Pau Gasol and longtime friend Kobe Bryant at NBA All-Star Game 2016

Pau Gasol inarguably deserves to be in the NBA Hall of Fame. Since we all love numbers and statistics, here are some impressive numbers that could further help Gasol's case.

The 41-year-old finished his career ranked in the top 50 in total points (20,894), rebounds (11,305), and blocks (1,941).

With those numbers, his awards, and everything he has done overseas, Pau Gasol should be joining the talented roster at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame soon.