The big man from Barcelona has decided to hang up his shoes.
Former NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors and legendary Spanish basketball player Marc Gasol has officially retired from basketball at the age of 39.
The Memphis Grizzlies, who traded for Gasol after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him 48th overall in the 2007 draft, plan to retire his No. 33 jersey on Apr. 6 following their game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Gasol spent the first 11 years of his career with Memphis, before being traded to the Raptors in 2019, the team which he ultimately won an NBA Championship with later that season.
He finished out his NBA career back with the Lakers in Los Angeles, the same team that his brother and NBA legend Pau Gasol won two NBA championships.
"Marc has a special place in the hearts and memories of Toronto and of Canada. He’s a champion on the court, where his unbelievable vision and masterful defence were key parts of our run to the 2019 title," said Raptors president Masai Ujiri in a statement from the team.
"He’s a champion in life too, with important contributions to communities around the world through the Gasol Foundation. He’s a three-time All-Star, first team All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Olympic silver medalist and, I believe, undisputed winner of best performance in the history of championship parades. Marc, the Raptors honour your grit and grind and we send you and your family our thanks and our best, warmest wishes for a happy retirement.”
The potential hall of fame inductee officially retires with 891 total games played in the NBA across 14 different seasons for three different franchises, notching three All-Star nods, two All-NBA selections, an All-Defensive Team nomination and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013.
The big man was known for his strong defensive prowess, but was unafraid to score at a high clip, as he finished his career averaging 14 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 48.1 per cent shooting from the field and 36 per cent from behind the three-point line.
He was also a staple outside of the NBA, as he was a contributor to the men's Spanish international basketball team. He helped bring his country two silver medals at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012, as well as five FIBA Eurobasket medals and two World Cup Golds in 2006 and 2019.
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