MEMPHIS, Tenn — Memphis Grizzlies legend Marc Gasol officially announced his retirement from basketball, Wednesday. Gasol played 10 of his 13 NBA seasons in Memphis.
Gasol, 39, was drafted by the Lakers in 2008, but was traded to the Grizzlies in exchange for his brother Pau. In Memphis, he was integral to the "Grit and Grind" era of the franchise. He made the All-Rookie team, was a three-time All-Star, twice All-NBA and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in the 2012-2013 season.
Gasol helped lead the Grizzlies to the playoffs six times, including 2013 when Memphis made it to the Western Conference Finals. He would eventually be traded to the Toronto Raptors where he won his first and only championship in 2019 and close out his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gasol is the Grizzlies All-Time franchise leader in field goals (4,341), rebounds (5,942), blocked shots (1,135), free throws (2,701) and minutes played (25,917). When Gasol was traded, Grizzlies owner Robert Pera said the team will one day retire the Spaniard's jersey along with fellow Grit and Grind era Grizzlies player Zach Randolph.
The native Spaniard is also a celebrated player in his home country. Alongside Pau, he helped lead Spain to silver medals in the Olympics of 2008 and 2012.
After leaving the NBA in 2021, he went back to Spain and played for Basquet Girona. It's the team he founded in 2014, named after CB Girona, a team he played for prior to his career in the NBA.
