The three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol might have left the NBA, but he isn’t ready to leave basketball. Gasol, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2020-21 season, announced earlier this week that he’ll continue his career with Spain’s Club Basquet Girona.
Despite Girona playing in the second tier of Spanish basketball competition, the move isn’t all that surprising. Gasol was actually the one who founded the team and is currently serving as its principal owner and president.
Gasol, who will turn 37 in January, intends to play for Girona until the end of the current season. After that, he’ll make a decision on whether to continue his career or retire from professional basketball.
Last season, Gasol made 52 appearances for the Lakers but struggled to perform at his usual level. He had career-worsts across the board, finishing 2020-21 with 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Being less than impressed with what they saw from Gasol, the Lakers decided to trade the Spaniard to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason. But the Grizzlies also didn’t need his services and ended up releasing him in mid-September.
Marc Gasol played a total of 13 seasons in the NBA, most of it coming in a Grizzlies jersey. While in Memphis, he was selected to two All-NBA teams and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. After being traded to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the 2018-19 season, Gasol also managed to capture an NBA Championship.
