Marc Gasol’s remarkable career as a remarkable person
By Jade Johnson
Individual NBA accomplishments
In December of 2011, Gasol signed the first of two contract extensions with the Memphis Grizzlies. That season, he would make his first All-Star appearance being voted in as a reserve by NBA coaches.
In the 2012-13 season, he was the driving force behind the Grizzlies’ smothering defense that allowed their opponents only 88.7 points per game, the lowest points allowed in the league that season. Gasol averaged one steal, 1.7 blocks and 5.5 defensive rebounds a game. It was a defensive performance good enough for him to receive the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Gasol was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team that season.
In 2015-16, Gasol made his second NBA All-Star appearance but this time, he was voted into the starting line-up for the Western Conference by the fans. In another special moment for the Gasol family, Marc would compete for the opening tip in the All-Star game against his brother Pau.
At the time Marc said, via NBA.com:
"I am honored and humbled to be selected as a starter for the All-Star Game. Knowing that I will be facing my brother Pau for the opening tip, it will be a true accomplishment for our family and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my career. It holds special meaning to be voted in by the fans, and I look forward to representing my teammates, the organization, the City of Memphis and entire Mid-South community and Grizzlies fans across the world."
And while the All-Star vote may have been the highlight of the year, he had an all-around career season in 2015-16. That year Gasol also had his best average in points with 17.4 on the season. He also scored 30 or more points five times. He’d only done that once in his first six seasons in the NBA.
On top of all that, Gasol also had career highs in field goals and free throws, both in attempts and makes. But maybe the most impressive stat line is that he was the only player that season to have at least 1,300 points, 600 rebounds and 300 assists.
By the 2016-17 season, the early narrative of Marc as “the other Gasol” had changed. Marc Gasol was an NBA star in his own right.
Other highlights of his career include:
- A third All-Star appearance in 2017
- In November of 2015, the first triple-double for the Grizzlies since 2007. The last had been the work of brother, Pau
- A career-high 42 points against the Toronto Raptors
Marc Gasol, in the quietest, most unassuming way possible became one of the best centers in the league. Gasol is proof that you don’t have to be attention-seeking like Shaquille O’Neal or a complete game-changer like Steph Curry or James Harden to be extremely successful as an NBA player. Solid fundamentals, hard work, and a lack of an ego went a long way toward the amazing few months Gasol has had.