Pau Gasol earns first KIA Community Assist Award

May 19, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) guards Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) in the second half of game four in the Western Conference semi finals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Staples Center. Thunder won 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers earned the first KIA Community Assist Award in recognition for his charitable work this season. The KIA Community Assist Award is dedicated to the standard set by David Robinson, who dealt extensively with the community.

“It’s important for NBA players to be involved and to make a difference because they can and sometimes we don’t realize how much of difference we can make,” Gasol said.

“It’s a big honor but also it comes with somebody who can go to the hospital and to take care of more people (and) more kids. It doesn’t get any better than that.”