Marc Gasol Retires From Professional Basketball
The Grit and Grind legend has called it quits. Here’s his legacy.
Marc Gasol stopped competing in the NBA in 2021. But he continued his professional play for two more seasons overseas for the Spanish club Bàsquet Girona.
And now in 2024, he has decided to hang up his Hyperdunks.
Gasol entered the NBA in 2008 and was one of my favourite bigs during the Memphis Grizzlies’ Grit and Grind era.
I loved his combination of physicality and graceful flash.
Often, he’d aggressively defend an opponent down on the block, get a stop, and then on the following offensive possession, toss a beautiful no-look, behind-the-back pass to a cutting teammate.
His style reminded me of this image I once saw of a buff centaur playing a harp.
Anyway, Gasol accomplished a lot in Memphis. He was the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, 1-time All-Defensive, 3-time All-Star and 2-time All-NBA.
After a decade of forging the Grizzlies to be one of the scariest teams to play against in the playoffs, he brought his unique skill set to Toronto in 2019 when he was traded there.
I was elated when I read the news. One of my favourite centers was now on one of my favourite teams.
I had a feeling they were going to do something spectacular that season.
Though I had a feeling the Raptors were going to make it to the NBA Finals -which would have been a huge accomplishment for the organization- with Gasol in the lineup, I did not -initially- think they were going to beat the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors were the super-est of superteams at that time.
However, the Raptors were able to pull through and win their first championship title, which Gasol played a big role in.
His defence and playmaking were crucial in the victory that immortalized him as one of the best basketball players to ever play the game.
The Grizzlies plan to retire his No. 33 in the rafters on April 6.
His best years as an NBA player were in Memphis as he leads the franchise in rebounds, blocks and field goals made.
He’s also second in total points and assists, trailing behind Mike Conley, Jr. in both categories.
Gasol was a highly talented player, a unicorn even, who holds career averages of 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 blocks.
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