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Is Damien Wilkins on the NBA Murtaugh List?

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Damien Wilkins #12 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the season game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Damien Wilkins #12 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the season game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Pau Gasol of the San Antonio Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 23: Pau Gasol #16 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks the shot against the Toronto Raptors on October 23, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Pau Gasol — San Antonio Spurs

Age: 37 (16 seasons)

Pau Gasol is still underrated in an era where such things rarely exist. We often have an agreed general consensus on many players, but rarely is Gasol’s name tossed around as often as other players who did as much or even less than him.

When people talk about Kobe Bryant’s last two championships in 2009 and 2011, they either forget Gasol or discount him entirely. A player who will end his career in the top 100 all-time for points, blocks and rebounds is somehow not worth most people’s time or treated as something lesser than a key member of those championship winning teams.

But I digress.

The Gasol we are talking about today is one who still made half his shots while averaging 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds last season. This season is off to a slower start as he is averaging only 7.8 points to go with his 7.3 rebounds per a game. It likely isn’t helping Gasol that the Spurs are without Kawhi Leonard, but in Pau’s 16th season, that doesn’t preclude age from factoring in.

Many of these post-35-year old players have NBA career’s that are eligible for a driver’s license, so it isn’t surprising to see their game slip away quickly. However, with the circumstances around the Spurs and a solid season in his rear view, it is too early to put Gasol on the Murtaugh List.

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