It was about business first for Pau Gasol.
A Renaissance man like Gasol wouldn’t have walked away from frequent visits to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for the rodeo if it wasn’t.
The decision to opt out of his final year with the Bulls, and sign a two-year $31.6 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason was about money and another chance for a ring chase at the age of 36.
That chase hit a pothole on Thursday, as the Bulls welcomed Gasol back to the United Center, and then handed him a 95-91 loss.
While Gasol did finish with 13 points and 10 rebounds, the stumble was the first road loss of the season for the Spurs (18-5), and a much needed boost for a 12-10 Bulls team that had lost three straight.
Not that the Bulls made it easy on themselves.
They held the Spurs to a season-low 32 first-half points, as well as building an 18-point lead, and then had to hold on at the end.
Patty Mills missed a three-pointer with just over 20 seconds left that would cut it a three-point Bulls lead, and once Dwyane Wade hit two free throws with 10.8 seconds left the game was on ice.
“The big thing was right out of the gate we had a focus to us,’’ Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said of the win. “We didn’t make any mistakes.’’
As far as Gasol, no feelings were hurt on either side in his departure.
“I had an incredible time and experience living in Chicago,” Gasol said to reporters. “Such a beautiful, rich city. Basketball-wise, we underperformed.
“I wasn’t there as long as I was in Memphis or L.A. I was emotionally committed to the team, trying to make it work. Things didn’t quite work out the way I expected them to, or the way the franchise expected them to.’’
Then Gasol added, “There was a lot going on.’’
Quite the understatement for a veteran player, who like Jimmy Butler, saw a front office all but try and sabotage Tom Thibodeau’s final season with the Bulls, as well as one that coddled the likes of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah when it came to practice time.
“At the end of the day, it’s how you feel and what you feel and how you see things,’’ Gasol said. “It was time for a new chapter.’’
And a richer one.
The final year of Gasol’s deal would have paid him $7.8 million. He doubled that in going to a team that also has a much better chance of going deep into the playoffs.
“I enjoyed coaching Pau,’’ Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “I really did. He’s extremely intelligent. He’s as smart a guy that I’ve been around. We ran a lot of offense through Pau, getting him the ball at the elbows or high post. He and Jimmy had a good chemistry on lobs. Heckuva player. Fun to coach him.
“To go out as an unrestricted free agent and explore and see what you can attract on the open market, he obviously got a great contract on a great team with a chance to win a championship. I’m happy for Pau and always wish him nothing but the best.’’
Following the game, Gasol said it was a strange night for him. Obvious, by the fact that he accidentally headed to the Bulls locker room rather than the visiting one upon his arrival.
“Last year was difficult,’’ Gasol added. “We had a coaching change, and that’s never an easy transition. But I did enjoy my time here.’’
