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Chicago Bulls: 25 Best Players To Play For The Bulls

By Phil Watson

Mar 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the Michael Jordan statue outside of the United Center before the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the Michael Jordan statue outside of the United Center before the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) blocks the shot by Miami Heat forward Amar’e Stoudemire (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) blocks the shot by Miami Heat forward Amar’e Stoudemire (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

24. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, July 19, 2014.. PF-C. 2014-16. Pau Gasol. 8. player

The Chicago Bulls were looking to make a push deeper into the postseason when they signed four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol as a free agent in July 2014.

The postseason plan didn’t quite work out for the Bulls–they were eliminated in the second round in 2014-15 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 last season–but not because Gasol failed to live up to his end of the bargain.

CHI_08_GASOL
CHI_08_GASOL /

Gasol was an All-Star in each of his two seasons in Chicago and was an All-NBA pick in 2014-15, finishing in the top 10 in rebounding and blocks each season.

However, his stay was shortlived. Gasol signed a two-year, $31 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs on July 14, 2016, that includes a player option for 2017-18.

In two seasons with the Bulls, Gasol averaged 17.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 blocks in 33.1 minutes per game, shooting .483/.379/.798.

He was the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks from Barcelona Lassa in Spain in the 2001 NBA Draft and his rights were dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night.

In 2001-02, Gasol was the third foreign-born player to earn Rookie of the Year honors, but the first not to come through the American development system. He was an All-Star in 2006 for the Grizzlies, finishing fourth in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 2001-02.

In February 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Gasol in a blockbuster deal and he helped the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals appearances, including championships in 2009 and 2010.

With L.A., Gasol was a three-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, placing fifth in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 2008-09.

He is 23rd in NBA history with 1,777 blocked shots, 38th with 10,048 rebounds, 41st with an average of 1.7 blocks per game, 49th with 19,209 points and 50th with 37,202 minutes.

Next: The Jet Brought Scoring To Chicago

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