Spanish Basketball Star Marc Gasol - Top 5 Facts

Learn all the top facts you need to know about the Spanish Basketball star Marc Gasol.

Marc Gasol is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He got into the league after being drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA draft.

Marc Gasol, who recently underwent weight loss, was transferred to Toronto in 2019, where he won his first NBA championship. He is also a two-time All-NBA Team member, a three-time NBA All-Star, and an NBA champion. Even though he's a prominent basketball player in the NBA, many of his fans may not be aware of other aspects of his life other than professional statistics. So we compiled some detailed facts Marc's supporters need to know about him in the sections below.

Marc Gasol's Early Life

Marc Gasol was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. He moved to the Memphis suburb of Germantown, Tennessee, in 2001 as a teenager with his parents. This happened after his older brother Pau joined the Memphis Grizzlies.

Marc Gasol was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain.
Source: The Spun

Marc Gasol played high school basketball at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis during his college years. He was nicknamed 'The Big Burrito' during his high school playing years and was named Division 2's Mr. Basketball in 2003 following a senior season in which he averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks per game. Lausanne even retired Gasol's number 33 jersey in 2008 in his honor.

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Marc Gasol's Pre-NBA Career

Marc Gasol returned to his home country of Spain after graduating from Lausanne. He joined the Spanish professional basketball club FC Barcelona to play in the Liga ACB. This was his first professional platform, where he showcased his exceptional skills and talent, where people found him worthy of performing at the top level.

Marc played for FC Barcelona and Girona in the Liga ACB.
Source: Twitter

After playing with Barcelona for three seasons, he joined another Spanish team named Girona in 2006. He was with the club till 2008, during the time when he was named the ACB Most Valuable Player.

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Marc Gasol's Most Significant Career Was His Time With Memphis Grizzlies (2008-2019)

Marc Gasol came into major prominence after getting selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 48th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. On February 1, 2008, his draft rights were traded by the Lakers to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a trade package that included his older brother, Pau, who was sent from the Grizzlies to the Lakers. On July 9, 2008, he signed with the Grizzlies. 

Marc Gasol signed with Memphis Grizzlies in 2008.
Source: Bleacher Reporter

In his time with the Grizzlies, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2009 and was an NBA All-Star in 2012. He was also part of the All-NBA Second Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2013. In the same year, he also gained a name as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Marc Gasol is Married to Cristina Blesa

Marc Gasol is currently married to his wife, Cristina Blesa. The couple was married on August 7, 2013, in Girona, a city in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region, beside the River Onya.

Marc Gasol is currently married to his wife, Cristina Blesa.
Source: Heavy

The two shares one daughter named Julia Gasol Blesa. The two currently live happily with each other in Toronto, Canada.

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Marc Gasol's International Career

Marc Gasol's been a regular member of the Spain national team since 2006. He boasts two silver medals with the team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Marc Gasol plays for the Spain national team.
Source: Def Pen

Additionally, he also won gold medals at the 2006 FIBA World Championships and the 2009 and 2011 FIBA European Championships. He is one of the important members of the team, along with his younger brother and former NBA player Pau Gasol.

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