By Dan Ferrara, NBA International
When Memphis Grizzlies star Marc Gasol broke his foot in February, his Rio Olympics future was in doubt. After undergoing surgery to repair the fractured navicular bone on February 23, his recovery wouldn’t allow him to participate after representing his country in 2008 and 2012, winning silver medals each time.
As the Gasol brothers are synonymous with Spanish basketball, the injury was devastating to the country. Now, without his brother, 36-year-old Pau Gasol looks to carry Spain to yet another medal in Brazil this summer.
Gasol got off to an excellent start to the Olympics on a personal level, scoring 26 points and adding nine rebounds in the opener, though Spain fell to Croatia in a thriller, 72-70. Gasol’s performance earned him an efficiency rating of 29, by far the highest of the game.
Now playing in his fourth Olympics, Gasol is seeking his third medal for Spain. He’s still a highly effective and gifted player at his age, and his skill down low is crucial in international competition. His size will help Spain contend against some of the taller powerhouses like the United States, and his outside shooting touch will allow his team to spread the floor and create better spacing.
Whether he is down on the low block or working the mid-range game, Gasol is a tough player to cover because he can beat smaller defenders with his crafty post-up moves or stretch the floor against tall, slower defenders who don’t want to leave the paint.
Even without Marc, Pau is great enough to be able to carry Spain this summer. Though the roster looks different and the team has a different feel without both Gasol brothers patrolling the middle of the floor, Spain is still a force to be reckoned with in Rio thanks to Pau’s on-court excellence and off-court leadership.
