Former Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol has been named as an eligible candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Gasol joins a list of first-time nominees, including NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, along with WNBA greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, and Chamique Holdsclaw. Legendary coaches Doc Rivers, Billy Donovan, and Mark Few also made the list, along with builder Micky Arison.
Gasol was a the defensive anchor for the Raptors and played a big role in helping the team win its first-ever NBA championship in 2019. Toronto acquired Gasol at the 2019 trade deadline and he played in 70 regular season games for the team, averaging 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Gasol came up big in the 2019 NBA Finals, helping the Raptors dethrone the Golden State Warriors. Gasol’s defense, impact on the glass and high basketball IQ helped the Raptors get over the top.
Before coming to Toronto, Gasol made his mark during an 11-season stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. With the Grizzlies, Gasol won the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year award and was selected as an NBA All-Star three times.
Gasol also impressed on the international stage as a big piece of Spain’s national basketball team. He won two FIBA World Cup titles, which made him the second player in history to win an NBA championship and a World Cup in the same year. Gasol also won two Olympic silver medals.
Finalists for the 2025 Hall of Fame class will be announced on Feb. 14 as part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend, with the official class announced on April 5 during the NCAA’s Final Four.
NBA insider shares update on Bruce Brown’s trade value
With trade season underway, Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown has already come up as a potential player on the move.
ESPN’s NBA insider Bobby Marks was on “The Raptors Show” With Blake Murphy and Matt Bonner, to discuss Brown’s current value in the trade market.
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