Marc Gasol won his first NBA championship this past season with the Toronto Raptors, and it seems like everyone is happy for the Spanish big man.
Gasol, who picked up his player option with the Raptors this summer, admits he was surprised how many people were happy for him after Toronto defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals.
Article Continues Below“You get a little more attention, for sure,” Gasol told Marc Stein of The New York Times. “You get recognized a lot. I’ve been surprised how many people are genuinely happy about it. Back home, in the States, everywhere — people are telling me, ‘We’re so happy for you.' “
Marc Gasol spent the first 10 and a half years of his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies. The three-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year is a Grizzlies legend. Unfortunately, Memphis traded Gasol to the Raptors at the 2019 trade deadline, as the franchise was embarking on a full rebuild.
Gasol never wanted to leave Memphis, but everything worked out for him. He now has a ring on his résumé and will probably make the basketball Hall of Fame now.
Gasol averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Raptors in the 2019 playoffs. He put up 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in the NBA Finals.