Bulls' Pau Gasol named VIP of tourney

Posted September 20, 2015 1:00 am

Mike McGraw

Bulls center Pau Gasol was named tournament MVP as Spain beat Lithuania 80-63 to win the European championships on Sunday in Lille, France. Gasol averaged 25.6 points and 8.8 points over nine games. He scored 40 in a semifinal win over France, before adding 25 points and 12 rebounds in the title game.

"I love to play. I love this game," Gasol told reporters after Sunday's contest. " I have a big passion for this game and playing for Spain is something really special, something that I really enjoy and I think it's very noticeable.

"To be able to play at this level at this point in my career, after all I've accomplished and this team has accomplished, it's something I'll always be proud of."

Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic averaged 12.7 points and 4.9 rebounds for Spain, which earned an automatic bid for next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Gasol, 35, and Mirotic are scheduled to begin training camp with the Bulls next week, with the first practice on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

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