NBA teams
Nick Friedell, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Pau Gasol among Lakers -- as a Bull

NBA, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers

LOS ANGELES -- Pau Gasol knows Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers will be different. After spending six and a half years with the Lakers, the veteran big man decided to sign with the Chicago Bulls last summer, a decision that looks very wise given how poorly the Lakers have been playing.

Even so, Gasol knows that facing off against his old team will be a different experience for him.

"It's going to be emotional," he said recently. "It's going to be special for sure. A lot of thoughts and emotions and memories will come back at that time. So I'll just try to contain them as much as I can and try to focus on playing my game and helping my team win."

The Bulls visit the Lakers a couple of nights after their most impressive win of the season, 113-111 in overtime over the Golden State Warriors. Gasol had 18 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists in the win.

This isn't the first time Gasol will enter Staples Center as a member of the Bulls. He was here Nov. 17 when Chicago faced, and defeated, the Los Angeles Clippers, although he did not play because of a calf injury. He knows that seeing some of his old teammates and friends will make things even more special.

"It won't be hard to stick to the routine before the game," Gasol said. "Once you get there, obviously with so much going on, so many people, and so many familiar faces, it's such a special building. The distractions will kick in and the emotions and memories will kick in. But after that point, everything should be the same."

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau anticipates Gasol being emotional.

"Obviously, what he did here, it speaks for itself," Thibodeau said. "The Lakers have a great history and I think he's an important part of that history. He did a great job when he was in Memphis, he did a great job here, and he's doing a great job for us. I think he looks back and it was a great experience for him. And I think he's looking forward to the challenge he has here in Chicago now."

Up to this point in the season, Gasol has been up to the challenge. He was voted an All-Star starter for the first time and has spoken openly about how "rejuvenated" he feels as a player. His pre-All-Star break numbers this season, compared to last year, back up that point.

In his first 44 games last season, Gasol averaged 17.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.9 minutes per game, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In his first 44 games of this season, he is averaging 18.3 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 35 minutes.

"He's been a great fit for us," Thibodeau said. "Great teammate, and he's stepped up and carried us through the early part of this season along with Jimmy [Butler]."

At 34, Gasol seems to be enjoying his new surroundings, as well. While there has been some drama in Chicago, especially after the Bulls' recent stretch of six losses in eight games, Gasol acknowledged that there isn't as much drama as there was during his time in Los Angeles.

"Obviously, when things were going well here [in L.A.] it was exceptional," Gasol said. "L.A., New York are two of the top cities, the best cities to win at. But they're probably two of the tougher cities to lose, struggle, because we get so much coverage. The media have to create stories sometimes. Negative stories are more attractive. So I felt like [people] were always searching for something bad or negative to talk about, some drama that was created whether there was some truth to it or not."

Lakers coach Byron Scott said Wednesday that Lakers fans owe Gasol one thing:

"A standing ovation," he said.

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