GASOL: You get a little more attention, for sure. You get recognized a lot. I’ve been surprised how many people are genuinely happy about it. Back home, in the States, everywhere — people are telling me, “We’re so happy for you.”

People seem to like you.

I don’t know why, because I’m not out there on social media exposing my life. So I was surprised how many people would actually follow it. I’m pretty secluded. But the championship allowed me to open up a little more.

How is your brother Pau taking it that there are two N.B.A. champions in the family now?

He keeps saying that he has two rings. I just say, “Maybe you have two, but I celebrated mine like it’s five, so I beat you on that one.”

I didn’t know that I cared that much — that it fulfilled me in a way that I didn’t know it could. Instantly you gain so much respect for everyone who has done this. Golden State, going to five straight finals and the rings that they have, I just instantly got so much respect for them. And LeBron going to eight finals in a row. Just doing it once put me beyond the limits I thought I had — physically and mentally. It was great to see, for myself, pushing those limits and leaving everything out there. It was awesome.

But now here you are, two months later, and you have to carry a big load for your country in the World Cup.

If you start analyzing and being very objective and cerebral about it, maybe you should rest. You just played 100-something games. But that’s not the way it works. We’re humans, and we’re moved by emotions. It’s a great feeling to play with these guys, and you only get a few opportunities to do so. To me it’s an honor to lead these guys in every way possible. I cherish every second.

I guess the last thing really missing from the résumé is beating the United States in a major competition. Is that your No. 1 goal now?