NBA icon Marc Gasol hangs up his basketball shoes after two decades in the game

After a distinguished career spanning 13 seasons in the NBA and an additional seven in Spain, Marc Gasol has made it official: he is hanging up his basketball shoes.  

The 39-year-old enjoyed the majority of his NBA tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he left an indelible mark by breaking the franchise rookie record for field-goal percentage. His exceptional defensive prowess earned him the coveted title of NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in the 2012-2013 season.  

"It is now the moment for me to take a step to the side and embrace everything that basketball has taught me and given me," declared Gasol during a news conference on Wednesday night. "The time has come for me to make this decision. If I continued playing, it could have had severe physical consequences." 

Gasol's extraordinary abilities also earned him three All-Star selections and a spot on the All-NBA first team for the 2014-2015 season.  

After a decade-long stint with the Grizzlies, Gasol was traded to the Toronto Raptors in February 2019. It was with the Raptors that he achieved the pinnacle of success by helping them secure the NBA championship, defeating the formidable Golden State Warriors in an exhilarating six-game series.  

Following the conclusion of the 2020 season, Gasol signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, his time in Los Angeles was short-lived as he made the decision to return to his native Spain in 2021. Gasol joined Basquet Girona, the club he founded in 2014, and played an instrumental role in their promotion to the Liga ACB.

Girona may not be Gasol's hometown, as he was born in Barcelona, but it holds a special significance in his basketball journey. It was in Girona where Gasol was given the opportunity to truly showcase his talent.  

At the age of 21, Gasol was acquired by CB Girona from Barcelona Basquet, where he had limited playing time. Gasol has expressed his gratitude toward Girona for the impact it had on his career, stating in a recent interview, "The way the city embraced me and helped me develop as a basketball player left a profound impact on me. I wanted other players to experience the warmth and support of a city behind them."

Upon his return to Girona, Gasol wasted no time in making an impact. He delivered a stellar performance in his first season, averaging an impressive 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. It was no surprise that his exceptional contributions on the court earned him the well-deserved recognition of being named the Most Valuable Player in the second-tier LEB Gold league. 

However, as the years went by, age gradually caught up with Gasol. Last season, he displayed incredible resilience by playing through injuries, but ultimately, he made the difficult decision to step away from the court. 

On the international stage, Gasol's contributions to the Spanish national team were nothing short of vital. He played a crucial role in Spain's success, helping secure consecutive silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Gasol also contributed to Spain's triumphs at the FIBA World Cup, earning two gold medals.