Pau Gasol is no stranger to the spotlight. The six-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion – who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 – played on the basketball court for 20 years, although these days, now that he’s retired, he’s more focused on his time on the golf course.
The 7-footer was introduced to golf later in life and learned quickly. He has a handicap of 9.3 and plays a lot; in October alone he has recorded 15 scores on his handicap.
He has also played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am three times, and the first time he competed in the event it was only his second year playing golf.
Gasol was our guest this week Subpar podcastwhere much of the conversation focused on his golf game. As an amateur golfer, he was also asked if he gets nervous playing in front of people or on TV at something like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
He had an interesting answer. It’s also something any golfer (or athlete) can learn from.
“I love playing in front of people; I’m used to playing in front of people,” Gasol said. “So basically playing in front of people gets the best out of me, or it keeps me focused. It gives me that adrenaline – the interaction, the engagement with the fans, I’m more used to that. So I love it. It didn’t have a negative effect on me. Whereas some people tensed up or got nervous or were like: Ah, I don’t want to make a bad shot or I don’t want to hit anyonethat doesn’t register. That doesn’t go in my head, in my brain. I’m going to lock, I’m going to make a great shot.
“It does make you nervous, which I like,” he continued. “I like to do things that make me nervous. Because I think when you get nervous it makes you feel alive. When you’re nervous it means this is important to you. So you should actually do more things that make you feel that way because it means you care about what you’re doing.”
Gasol said some of the nerves get to him at night and can even wake him up as he thinks about an opening tee shot or a swing thought. But he has learned to love it.
“When I played basketball at the highest level and in the biggest games, I didn’t wake up or get the same rest that I can’t get when I play some of these tournaments,” he said. “So it’s kind of cool.”
For more about Gasol, including his thoughts on what he learned playing with Kobe Bryant, the evolution of his golf game and more, click here to listen to the podcast or continue watching YouTube below.
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