Last Updated on January 27, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Pau Gasol did not play college basketball in the United States. He played professionally in Spain for FC Barcelona before entering the 2001 NBA Draft.
Here’s a quick summary of his early career instead:
Pau Gasol – Pre-NBA Career Overview
| Season | Team | League | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | BPG | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–1999 | FC Barcelona | ACB (Spain) | 6 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 41.7% |
| 1999–2000 | FC Barcelona | ACB | 13 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 61.1% |
| 2000–2001 | FC Barcelona | ACB | 24 | 11.3 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 63.6% |
These stats are from Liga ACB (Spanish pro league), not NCAA. The 2000–01 season was his breakout year, earning him top prospect status before being drafted 3rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks (then traded to the Grizzlies).