Former Spain, Raptors champion Marc Gasol retires

Marc Gasol retires from basketball, calling time on a career in which he won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors and two World Cup gold medals with Spain.

The 39-year-old younger brother of Pau Gasol – who had also retired after a career highlighted by back-to-back NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 – announced his decision at a press conference on Wednesday, January 31, in Barcelona.

“There’s a part of me that still said I could play. But no – you’ve got to pour water on that fire,” Gasol said.

“I wouldn’t change a second of what has happened to me in these 20 years. Not even the screw-ups. I don’t have a single thorn in my side. I’m very lucky.”

The 6-foot-11 forward played in the NBA for 13 seasons, 11 with the Memphis Grizzlies where he is second in the all-time scoring list. He was traded to the Raptors in 2019 and helped Toronto to their first Larry O’Brien trophy as NBA champions.

He was a key member of Spain’s World Cup teams in 2006 and 2019 and helped his country win Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012.

“Marc Gasol leaves a legacy of success and values that makes him (part of) HISTORY of Spanish basketball,” Elisa Aguilar, the president of the Spanish Basketball Federation, posted on social media platform X.

Gasol most recently played for Basquet Girona, a team he founded in 2014. He also served as the team’s president.

Pau Gasol retired from the sport in 2021. – Rappler.com