Marc Gasol simply refused to let the Spanish national team go away.
Gasol had scored just 10 points when Jayson Tatum’s 3-pointer extended the United States lead to 16 points with 3:13 remaining in the 4th quarter of a FIBA World Cup exhibition game in Anaheim, Calif., on 17 Aug. It certainly looked as if the Spaniards had used all their tricks against the top-ranked Americans, who had held a comfortable lead.
But then the 7-foot-1 center went on a shooting clinic from downtown, displaying the deft touch from beyond the arc that he developed over the past three years to extend his stellar NBA career. Gasol nailed three triples, part of a personal 9-2 run over the final three minutes to finish with a game-high 19 points in a 90-81 defeat.
For Gasol, the experience was an excellent measuring stick for a Spanish squad that enters the 2019 FIBA World Cup ranked No. 2 in the world and aspires to reach the same heights as its last World Cup winner in 2006.
“It was good to see the level and the standard that they [saw] physically,” said Gasol to reporters after the exhibition. “It was good for some of the guys who haven’t played against NBA type of athleticism… It’s a preparation game.”
There’s plenty of value in that preparation. Spain features one of the most NBA-heavy rosters out of all 32 teams headed to China for this year’s FIBA World Cup, with Ricky Rubio (Phoenix Suns), Willy Hernangomez (Charlotte Hornets) and Juancho Hernangomez (Denver Nuggets) joining Gasol on the roster. But with several additional key NBA talents absent from the roster – including Serge Ibaka, Nikola Mirotic and Gasol’s older brother, Pau – the younger Gasol stands alone as the unquestioned leader, a grizzled veteran who has proven he knows how to win at every level.
This past year has certainly been a whirlwind for Gasol. After spending the first 10 seasons of his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, the 34-year-old big man was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the 2019 trade deadline as the Grizzlies shifted toward a youth movement. In Toronto, Gasol saw his role dialed back, averaging the lowest amount of shots per game in his career. Instead, he became a super role player, working as a facilitator from outside the arc and spreading the floor for Kawhi Leonard while helping the Raptors – and himself – to their first-ever NBA title.
Coming off a season in which he reached the pinnacle of the NBA game, the Barcelona native now shifts his attention towards capturing the same glory on the international stage. Gasol joins 34-year-old former NBA guard Rudy Fernandez as the lone remaining players from Spain’s 2006 FIBA World Cup winner.
“I was younger and the team was very good, and it was such a unique moment of joy,” said Gasol in an April FIBA.basketball interview. “It is one of the high points of my career. I wish every player could experience this kind of success.”
Gasol was only 21 years old when Spain won in 2006, averaging just over 11 minutes per game while spending most of his time watching Pau lead La Roja with a dominant overall display that earned him tournament MVP honors. This time around, it will be the younger Gasol that Spain leans on in its quest to recapture FIBA’s ultimate prize.
Marc Gasol (left) played sparingly on the Spanish team that won the 2006 FIBA World Cup in Japan, instead watching his older brother Pau (right) lead the team to a gold medal. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
Gasol will be relied upon to carry the load on both sides of the ball, with his familiarity with Spain’s head coach Sergio Scariolo reinforced due to the latter’s role as an assistant coach for the Raptors. Gasol has aged gracefully in the NBA, still serving as one of the game’s premier passing bigs while also developing an effective shot from deep. After averaging 0.1 3-pointers per game on 18.2% shooting from deep in his first eight NBA seasons, he is averaging 3.8 3-pointers on 36.2% shooting since 2016-17.
“He grew as a professional and he developed great skills,” said Scariolo when Gasol was traded to the Raptors in February. “They were there, but he didn’t really know how to use them and he’s been kind of a late bloomer … But he’s a great pro, that’s why he’s in great shape at 34.”
Spain begins its title quest on Saturday against No. 51 Tunisia before taking on No. 16 Puerto Rico and No. 27 Iran in Group C play. A top-two finish in the group sees them advance to the Second Round against the top two teams from Group D, setting up a potential matchup with Denver Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokic and Serbia. Regardless of the tough competition, Gasol is laser-focused on continuing what has been a fantastic year for him.
“I’m going to try to keep this successful streak going by coming back home from China with something, a medal for example,” said Gasol in a July interview with FIBA.basketball. “That would be amazing. I just won an NBA title, and I really want more and more.”
For Gasol and fans of La Roja, another taste of that 2006 FIBA World Cup magic just might do the trick.
