Marc Gasol became a local legend in Memphis while playing 10-plus seasons for the Grizzlies, leading them to seven straight playoff appearances and one trip to the Western Conference Finals. The Grizzlies traded Gasol to the Toronto Raptors right before the deadline this season, but the Spaniard still has plenty of fans in Memphis cheering him on as he nears his first-ever NBA championship.
In fact, there are some who even want to throw him a parade if the Raptors finish off the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals:
If the Raptors win the championship, I will be leading a Marc Gasol parade in Memphis! Who is with me?!!! pic.twitter.com/JXlRDhF6kO
— Bongo Lady (@GrizzBongoLady) May 26, 2019
Malenda Meacham, aka “Bongo Lady,” reiterated this desire to Scott Cacciola of The New York Times:
Some Memphians want to throw Gasol a parade.
“Absolutely,” said Malenda Meacham, the longtime Grizzlies fan known as Bongo Lady for her bongo-playing theatrics at home games. “Marc has always been Memphis to me. But I really want the Raptors to win.”
For Meacham and many other Grizzlies fans, it was tough to see Gasol leave Memphis after so much prolonged success, albeit without a championship. But now they're jumping on the Raptors bandwagon, hoping Gasol can finally taste that championship glory.
Gasol and the Raptors will have their first opportunity to close out the Warriors on Monday night in Toronto. There's a chance Kevin Durant will be back, which would make the task more daunting, but the Raptors are focused and flying high, winners of seven of their last eight games.
Gasol has played a key role on both ends of the court, and he'll need to be on his game for Toronto to secure the title.
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