ESP/USA - Gasol on a rollercoaster

LOS ANGELES (NBA/Olympics)- Pau Gasol has an up-and-down week.

The MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship and EuroBasket 2009, Gasol was named the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner for this season.

The 31-year-old, who would have become a doctor had he not chosen to play professional basketball, won for his efforts supporting the medical field.

On Friday, after the Lakers' shoot-around, Gasol talked about his work as a UNICEF ambassador to promote programs aimed at children's nutrition and education.

"Every time that I visited, it's been an experience that stayed with me," said Gasol, who became emotional as he spoke to reporters.

"You always meet a patient or several patients that are very inspirational or get into you in a way that's shocking.

"So, every time there's a child, there's a family, there's several of them that are obviously facing a very tough situation, a very tough time in their lives and you're just there to contribute a little bit, make their day, get a smile out of them, inject them some strength, some energy so they can hopefully have a better chance.

"As much as you can do, nothing is really little. That's why I encourage everyone in their means to have an impact on somebody else's life."

Gasol has been hearing criticism for his latest performance on the court, however.

The Spain international didn't attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Western Conference play-off game and the Lakers blew a 13-point lead, losing 103-100 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Even Kobe Bryant, one of his closest friends in the team, said of Gasol: "Pau's got to be more assertive.

"He's the guy out there that we need. When he's getting the ball he's looking to pass.

"He's got to be aggressive. He's got to shoot the ball.

"He's got to drive the ball to the basket and he will in the next game."

Gasol has time to make amends but the Lakers now have to win three games in a row to knock off the Thunder and advance to the Western Conference Finals.

The two-time Olympian is set to play for Spain this summer at the London Games.

FIBA