Gasol calls the move unusual
Pau Gasol has assessed Pedro Martínez's appointment at Real Madrid as one of the standout storylines of the summer in Spanish basketball. The Catalan coach left Valencia Basket after a historic season to take charge of the Whites, a direct switch between title contenders that the former star sees as uncommon at the top level.
The remarks, shared in a conversation with Radio MARCA ahead of the tip-off of the Liga Endesa 2026/27, were published by SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, where Gasol noted that such a move is not very common. He recalled that Madrid had a different project in place with Sergio Scariolo and that the club has now made a firm bet on a proven, highly regarded coach.
Context around the coaching change
Gasol framed the decision against Madrid's recent campaign, which he described as solid overall but hampered by injuries at the decisive stage. Even so, the team reached the final of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and remained competitive domestically, a benchmark the new staff will be expected to uphold.
For the two-time NBA champion, Martínez brings deep knowledge of the Liga Endesa, experience handling demanding locker rooms and a style that can inject fresh momentum after a summer of renewal among the leading contenders, including Barça and Valencia Basket.
Outlook for the new season
With the Lliga Catalana and the Supercopa Endesa set to open the official calendar, Gasol did not foresee a long adaptation period and stressed that the title demands at Madrid and Barcelona require immediate impact. In his view, the Catalan coach's profile as a top-level tactician provides a strong foundation to compete for every trophy.
The assessment comes amid widespread coaching and roster turnover across Spain's elite and positions Martínez's arrival in the capital among the key narratives to follow once official competition resumes.
