The year 2019 was special for the Toronto Raptors as they won a championship.
The Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2018, which gave Toronto a one-year window to do something.
This was Nick Nurse’s first year as head coach and he implemented defensive ideologies that would solidify the Raptors as contenders. A big piece of the Raptors success that season was Marc Gasol.
Now after 13 seasons in the NBA, Gasol decided to call it a career on Jan. 31 :
After 20 professional seasons and 13 in NBA, Marc Gasol has retired from basketball. He played for Grizzlies, Raptors and Lakers, winning the 2019 NBA title in Toronto, making three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team. Memphis plans to retire his No. 33 jersey. pic.twitter.com/vGC8DbyxUt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2024
Despite his prime taking place during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies, Gasol still played a huge role with the Raptors in winning a title. He notably dropped 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and a block in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
Gasol averaged 12 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the six-game series.
In two seasons in Toronto, the 7-footer averaged 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 44.2% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. As one of the most fundamental centers in the league, he certainly was deserving of a ring.
Gasol mainly made his impact on the defensive end, winning the 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year. He had three All-Star Game appearances and two All-NBA appearances. In the later stages of his career, he revitalized his game by expanding to the 3-point line.
He truly earned a respectable reputation as a shooter during his time in Toronto, shooting 44.2% from three-point distance when first acquired by the Raptors.
Gasol was a true professional. He had a long and illustrious career in the NBA and overseas representing his home country of Spain.
Marc Gasol’s career stats
Reflecting on Gasol’s total career, he played a total of 769 games, starting in 762 on them. He averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 blocks on 48.1% from the field and 36% from three-point range.
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