The forty eighth total decide within the 2007 draft, Gasol didn’t enter the NBA with important fanfare as a draft-and-stash prospect in 2008 after his rights have been traded from the Lakers to the Grizzlies in a bundle for his brother Pau Gasol. Nonetheless, he rapidly emerged as a dependable starter within the center and have become a key member of the “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies, spending greater than 10 seasons with the franchise.
An All-Star in 2012, 2015 and 2017 and the NBA’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 2013, Gasol was finally traded from Memphis to Toronto on the 2019 deadline and was the beginning heart for the Raptors staff that gained a championship that season. After another yr in Toronto, he spent the 2020-21 season with the Lakers.
In an echo of the beginning of his NBA profession, Gasol was as soon as once more traded in September of 2021 from the Lakers to the Grizzlies, who subsequently waived him. That was the final time he was on an NBA roster. The 39-year-old spent the subsequent two seasons with Basquet Girona, the staff he owns and runs in Spain.
Whereas Gasol indicated about two years in the past that he hadn’t dominated out the opportunity of an NBA return, he’s closing that door together with his official retirement announcement.
He averaged 14.0 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 891 profession common season NBA video games (32.2 MPG), posting a taking pictures line of .481/.360/.776. He additionally appeared in 99 playoff contests with the Grizzlies, Raptors and Lakers and earned a pair of All-NBA nods, together with a spot within the First Staff in 2015.
Grizzlies proprietor Robert Pera mentioned on the time of Gasol’s commerce to the Raptors that the franchise would someday retire his jersey (No. 33). The staff might transfer ahead on these plans now that the large man has formally retired.
