Pau Gasol

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Lore & Background

Gasol was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, but his rights were traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies. He holds the Grizzlies' franchise record for free throws made and attempted. Following more than six seasons with Memphis, Gasol played for the Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2014), Chicago Bulls (2014–2016), San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019), and Milwaukee Bucks (2019). Internationally, Gasol has won a FIBA World Cup title, three EuroBasket titles, two Olympic silver medals, and an Olympic bronze medal with Spain. He was named MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Cup and the 2009 and 2015 FIBA EuroBasket. Gasol shares the record for most EuroBasket MVP awards (two) with Krešimir Ćosić. Gasol is also the all-time leading scorer in the EuroBasket. In 2021, he became a member of the International Olympic Committee. In 2023, it was announced that Gasol would be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Gasol's defensive legacy arrived in April 2013. Anchoring a Memphis unit that allowed a league-low 88.7 points per game, he became the first player in Grizzlies history to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. This honor also made him the first Spanish man and first European to receive it. His impact was quantifiable; with Gasol on the court, the team enjoyed a +7.5 score differential compared to -3.9 when he sat. Beyond defense, his offensive ceiling rose in 2014–15 when he earned All-NBA First Team honors and averaged a career-best 17.4 points. He recorded multiple triple-doubles during this era, including his first with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Houston Rockets on November 20, 2015.

Reader's Guide

Gasol began playing basketball as a center with his school team, Llor, and eventually signed with Cornellà. At sixteen, he began playing for FC Barcelona's junior team. He made his senior debut for FC Barcelona on January 17, 1999. In his final ACB season, he averaged 12.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. After entering the NBA draft, he was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks, who traded his rights to the Vancouver Grizzlies. In his first NBA season, Gasol became the first foreign player to win Rookie of the Year, averaging 17.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He led the Grizzlies to their first three playoff appearances (2004, 2005, 2006), though they were swept each time. He was the first Grizzlies player selected to an All-Star Game (2006). On February 1, 2008, Memphis traded Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers. When he departed, he held twelve franchise records.

Did You Know?

• Gasol was the first non-American to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
• He holds the Grizzlies' franchise record for free throws made and attempted.
• Gasol shares the record for most EuroBasket MVP awards (two) with Krešimir Ćosić.
• He is the all-time leading scorer in EuroBasket history.
• Gasol was named MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Cup and the 2009 and 2015 FIBA EuroBasket.

The Gasol Brothers Trade and Memphis Identity

Marc Gasol was drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA draft. On February 1, 2008, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a deal that sent his older brother, Pau Gasol, to the Lakers. He signed with the Grizzlies on July 9, 2008. As a rookie, he set a franchise record for field goal percentage at 53 percent, surpassing the previous mark held by Pau. He led the Grizzlies in blocked shots in each of his first three NBA seasons.

Defensive Dominance and Individual Accolades

In April 2013, Gasol was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in Grizzlies history to win the award, as well as the first Spanish man and first European. He anchored a defense that allowed a league-low 88.7 points per game during the regular season. He earned three NBA All-Star selections (2012, 2015, 2017) and was named to the All-NBA Team twice, including the First Team in 2014–15 when he averaged a career-best 17.4 points.

International Glory with Spain

Gasol has been a regular member of the Spain national team since 2006. He won two FIBA Basketball World Cup titles and two EuroBasket championships, along with one silver medal and two bronze medals in EuroBasket. On the Olympic stage, he secured two silver medals.

Career Evolution and Championship Success

Gasol remained with the Grizzlies until being traded to the Toronto Raptors on February 7, 2019. He helped lead the Raptors to the 2019 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games to win the championship. After opting into his player option for the 2019–20 season, he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on November 24, 2020, playing one season before being traded back to Memphis and waived in September 2021. He announced in November 2021 that he would play for Bàsquet Girona until the end of the 2021–22 season.

The Gasol Brothers Trade

Marc Gasol was drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA draft. On February 1, 2008, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a package that sent his older brother Pau Gasol to the Lakers. He signed with the Grizzlies on July 9, 2008. In his rookie season, he set a franchise record for field goal percentage at 53 percent, breaking the previous mark held by Pau (51.8% in 2001–02). Gasol was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Defensive Dominance

In April 2013, Gasol won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the first player in Grizzlies history to do so. He was also the first Spanish man and first European to win the honor. The defense he anchored allowed a league-low 88.7 points per game that season. His +5.4 score differential ranked second among all NBA centers. Despite winning Defensive Player of the Year, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team due to a different voting system.

International Career

Gasol has been a regular member of the Spain national team since 2006. He has won two Olympic silver medals and two FIBA Basketball World Cup titles. In EuroBasket competition, he has secured two gold titles, one silver medal, and two bronze medals.

Championship and Departure

On February 7, 2019, Gasol was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for C.J. Miles, Jonas Valančiūnas, Delon Wright, and a 2024 second-round draft pick. He helped the Raptors reach the 2019 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games. In his first NBA Finals game, he scored 20 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. This victory made him and Pau the first set of brothers to win NBA titles, joining Pau's championships from 2009 and 2010.